USCA dominates the arena in women’s collegiate polo

For the first time in the University of South Carolina Aiken’s history, the women’s polo team has finished the season undefeated and enters postseason play as the No. 1 seed in the nation, ranking ahead of several Division I programs.

Among approximately 35 collegiate polo programs across the United States, the Pacers currently hold the top national ranking. Since 2022, the team has consistently competed against some of the country’s strongest collegiate programs, including several Division I schools such as the University of Virginia (UVA) and Texas A&M University. The team has also faced other top-ranked programs, including Southern Methodist University, the University of Kentucky, Cornell University and Yale University.

In October, the team traveled to compete in UVA’s Fall Invitational Tournament. During the first game, the Pacers beat Texas A&M 16-9, then later secured the tournament title with an 11-9 victory over UVA.

Following their undefeated season, the Pacers are now headed to the National Finals Tournament in Dallas, where they will face Cornell University, the tournament’s No. 4 seed. The competition will take place March 17-22 at Prestonwood Polo Club.

USCA is scheduled to play Cornell in the semifinal round on March 19. If the Pacers advance, they will compete in the women’s national championship match on Sunday, March 22 which will be live streamed on the USPA Polo Network.

The team is coached by local polo player and sponsor of the Broken Taco Polo teams Parker Scott, who believes the Pacers have a strong chance of winning the national title.

“They’ve each played polo for many years individually and hopefully this is their year as a team. We are pushing for it and want to bring the championship to USCA,” Scott said.

Despite competing against programs with larger rosters, USCA’s team is made up of just three players: Brianna Jordan, a junior graphic design major and club president; her twin sister Madison Jordan, a sophomore sociology major and team captain; and Winnie Branscum, a sophomore biology pre-med major who serves as vice president.

“All three having played in the United States Polo Association’s Youth Tournament Series. Madison and Brianna both have won interscholastic high school national championships and Winnie comes from a polo playing family and has played extensive arena and grass polo,” Parker said.

Brianna Jordan, who plays alongside her sister on the team, says she feels confident heading into the national tournament and believes the team is well prepared for the challenge. “I think that we've set ourselves up for success this year as well. Just being very organized and playing as many games as we can,” she said.

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