South Carolina and UConn Advance to Women’s National Championship Game

The South Carolina Gamecocks and Connecticut Huskies are set to face off in the women’s national championship game after dominant victories in the Final Four on Friday night.

In the first semifinal in Tampa, the defending-champion Gamecocks fell behind early but stormed back to beat the Texas Longhorns 74-57. Texas came out firing, taking a 12-4 lead in the opening minutes, with SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker scoring six points in the first 10 minutes. However, South Carolina quickly found their rhythm, outscoring the Longhorns in every subsequent quarter—20-16, 20-9, and 16-13.

The Gamecocks displayed a balanced offensive attack, with Te-Hina Paopao leading the way with 14 points. Freshman Joyce Edwards contributed 13 points off the bench, playing a key role in the Gamecocks’ second-half surge. On defense, South Carolina excelled, limiting Texas to just 39.3% shooting and forcing 14 turnovers. Booker, who had started strong, struggled to maintain her form, finishing with only 11 points, 1 rebound, and no assists.

With the win, South Carolina is now heading to their third national championship game in the past four seasons. Head coach Dawn Staley is in pursuit of her fourth national title since taking over the program in 2017.

Standing in their way is the Connecticut Huskies, who absolutely dismantled UCLA in the second semifinal, winning 85-51. From the opening tip, Connecticut’s defensive pressure stifled UCLA, forcing the Bruins into a 38.5% shooting night and 19 turnovers. Lauren Betts was the lone bright spot for UCLA, scoring 26 points, but the rest of the team struggled mightily.

On the offensive side, the Huskies were led by senior guard Azzi Fudd, who scored 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Freshman Sarah Strong added 22 points, and despite a quiet night from Paige Bueckers—who contributed 16 points—Connecticut showed their depth and firepower. The win was especially impressive considering the Huskies never let UCLA settle into a rhythm.

The victory sends Connecticut to their first national championship game in three years, following a loss to South Carolina in the 2022 final. The Huskies have not won a national title since 2016, but with this dominant performance, they are eager to reclaim the top spot in women’s college basketball.

Now, the stage is set for a highly anticipated title game between South Carolina and Connecticut, a rematch of the 2022 final, where the Gamecocks emerged victorious.