Memphis vs. South Carolina women's basketball at FedExForum switched to an exhibition game

Memphis women's basketball's return game with coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina is still happening.

It just won't count toward either program's win-loss record.

Instead of hosting a regular-season non-conference game against the defending national champions, coach Alex Simmons' Tigers will welcome South Carolina for an exhibition game for the 2024-25 season.

The date is set for Oct. 15, and it will be played at FedExForum, according to an amendment to the original competition agreement, which was obtained by The Commercial Appeal through an open records request.

The initial home-and-home deal was finalized on Aug. 1, 2022, when Katrina Merriweather (now the coach at Cincinnati) was leading the Tigers. South Carolina won the first game of the series 79-54 in Columbia, South Carolina, on Dec. 3, 2022. The return game was originally scheduled for the 2023-24 season. But, last summer, the schools agreed to bump it to the 2024-25 season.

ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme projects South Carolina as the No. 1 overall seed for March Madness in 2025.

While the the Tigers won't have the powerhouse Gamecocks on the regular-season schedule, they are set to host Tennessee (Dec. 18) and Louisville (Dec. 21) at FedExForum . The game against the Cardinals will be part of a basketball doubleheader, as Memphis' men's basketball team is set to host Mississippi State the same day. Tip-off times for both games have not yet been announced.

MEMPHIS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Tigers to host Louisville at FedExForum in 2024-25

Memphis, heading into Year 2 for Simmons, was 13-17 last season. The Tigers return two of their top four scorers from last season (Alasia Smith and Hannah Riddick). Tanyuel Welch is also set to get back on the floor. After averaging 13 minutes a game as a true freshman in 2022-23, Welch missed last season with an injury.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis vs. South Carolina women's basketball at FedExForum switched to an exhibition game