Three Years After Defeating UConn in the National Championship, South Carolina’s Veterans Take on Larger Roles

The South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team as they prepare for a high-stakes showdown with the UConn Huskies. The stage is set for an intense game this Sunday, as the Gamecocks face off against UConn in a battle for the trophy, with the game set to begin at 3:00 p.m. at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Fans can catch the action live on ABC, or stream it on the ESPN app.

Under the leadership of Coach Dawn Staley, South Carolina captured the 2021-2022 National Championship, dominating UConn in the title game. Back then, the Gamecocks were a much different team. Coach Staley relied heavily on her starting five, which included Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Victaria Saxton, Brea Beal, and Destanni Henderson. These players started every game when available, with reserves getting limited opportunities unless the game was out of reach. In fact, during the championship game, Bree Hall, a true freshman, was the only bench player to log significant minutes, playing exactly 10 minutes in the fourth quarter.

Fast forward to today, and the Gamecocks are rolling with one of the deepest benches in the country. South Carolina now regularly plays its top reserves for 15 to 20 minutes per game. This season, 10 players averaged at least 10 minutes a game, with nine of them surpassing 18.9 minutes per game. Ashlyn Watkins, currently injured, is included in this depth rotation. However, Coach Staley isn’t hesitant to rely on her veteran starters, especially when it’s crunch time, as we’ve seen in previous games.

That experience and depth will be crucial in Sunday’s matchup. For the first time in years, South Carolina enters the game as an underdog, with UConn favored by over five points, according to most betting outlets. To overcome this, the Gamecocks will need big performances from their veteran leaders, including Bree Hall, Sania Feagin, and Raven Johnson. This trio earned rings as part of the 2021-2022 championship team, but they were not major contributors in the title game against UConn. In fact, they combined for just 11 minutes of play that day. Johnson was sidelined due to an ACL injury, Feagin was buried on the bench, and Hall had a limited role.

Now, three years later, these players are set to take on a larger role. Hall, Feagin, and Johnson have been critical to the Gamecocks’ defense this season and have stepped up with clutch performances throughout the tournament. “Big Shot Breezy” Hall, in particular, has a reputation for hitting key 3-pointers in the final moments of games. Both Feagin and Johnson have proven to be steadying forces in the tournament’s most pivotal moments.

Coach Staley will be counting on her experienced players to step up in a major way against Geno Auriemma and his top-tier UConn team. In 2022, these veterans were part of the team that ended UConn’s dynasty, and now they have a chance to solidify their own legacy by defeating the Huskies again, three years later.

The Gamecocks will have their hands full with the challenge ahead, but with their veteran leadership and the depth that Staley has developed, they’ll be ready to fight for the trophy. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as the game approaches. Stay tuned for more coverage of this exciting matchup!