In a stunning defensive masterclass, the South Carolina Gamecocks dismantled the undefeated UConn Huskies 62-48 on Friday night at the women's NCAA Tournament Final Four, snapping the Huskies' remarkable 54-game winning streak and propelling the Gamecocks into the national championship game.
The victory, played before a packed crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, marked a dramatic reversal from last season's title game, where UConn had routed South Carolina 82-59 to claim their 12th national championship. This time, it was South Carolina's turn to dominate, holding UConn—the nation's second-highest scoring team at over 87 points per game—to just 48 points, the fewest the Huskies had scored since their 49-point output in that 2022 championship loss to the Gamecocks.
Ta'Niya Latson led South Carolina with 16 points, while Agot Makeer contributed 14, including a crucial 3-pointer in the third quarter that helped extend the lead. The Gamecocks, now 36-3 on the season, advanced to face the winner of Sunday's semifinal between Texas and UCLA for a chance at their fourth national title—all of which have come in the last decade under coach Dawn Staley.
For UConn, the loss was a bitter end to a near-perfect campaign. The Huskies entered the Final Four undefeated for the ninth time in program history and the third consecutive year, but once again departed without the trophy. They had also fallen in the 2017 and 2018 national semifinals, patterns that coach Geno Auriemma could not break this time around. UConn, which had beaten South Carolina handily during the 2024-25 regular season, shot a season-worst 31.1 percent from the field, going 19 for 61 overall.
The game's tension spilled over after the final buzzer. With less than a second left, Auriemma crossed the court to shake hands with Staley, but the exchange quickly turned animated. According to reports from the scene, Auriemma pointed to the floor while conversing with Staley, who yelled back at him. Assistants from both teams intervened to separate the coaches. When the clock finally expired, Auriemma reportedly walked straight to the tunnel without shaking hands, though players from the two teams did exchange postgame courtesies.
The matchup was billed as an offensive showdown between the second- and third-leading scoring teams in the nation, both averaging more than 87 points per game. Instead, it unfolded as a gritty defensive battle, with the first half alone featuring a combined 22-for-62 shooting performance (35.4 percent) and 14 turnovers between the teams. UConn held a slim 26-24 lead at halftime, but the defenses set the tone early.
South Carolina seized control in the third quarter, opening with a 12-2 run to take a lead they would never relinquish. The Gamecocks pushed the advantage to 40-30, marking the largest deficit UConn had faced all season. The Huskies, who had cruised through their first four tournament games with ease—often routing Big East opponents by record margins—struggled against their first true test.
UConn mounted a brief comeback, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers to close within 40-39. Azzi Fudd, the All-America guard honored for her contributions, sank the last of those after missing seven of her first eight shots, blanketed by South Carolina's relentless defense. But Tessa Johnson responded with the final four points of the quarter, giving the Gamecocks a 44-39 edge entering the fourth.
Leading 46-44 early in the final period, South Carolina added five straight points, capped by Makeer's 3-pointer, to stretch the lead to seven. Sarah Strong, fresh off being named the AP Player of the Year on Thursday, drilled a 3-pointer to pull UConn back to 51-47 with 4:39 remaining. However, the Huskies went scoreless for the next several minutes as South Carolina embarked on an 11-0 run.
Strong, who finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds in a double-double performance, struggled mightily from the field, shooting 4 for 16. Fudd added just eight points on 3-for-15 shooting. The Gamecocks' defense effectively neutralized UConn's star duo, forcing 10 missed 3-pointers in the first half alone—UConn went 0 for 11 from beyond the arc early on.
Both teams had arrived in the Final Four unbeaten in the tournament, having dispatched their earlier opponents with relative ease. UConn's path included dominant wins in the first four rounds, rarely challenged after their regular-season dominance in the Big East. South Carolina, seeking redemption after last year's lopsided final loss, mirrored that efficiency, setting up what was expected to be a high-scoring affair.
The crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse added to the electric atmosphere, with dozens of former Huskies and Gamecocks stars in attendance. Among them were Diana Taurasi, a UConn legend and WNBA icon; Paige Bueckers, the Huskies' former standout now recovering from injury; and Aliyah Boston, South Carolina's 2023 national player of the year. Boston, a vocal supporter of her alma mater, was spotted sitting next to rapper Flavor Flav, a prominent advocate for women's sports who has been a fixture at recent tournaments.
This defeat extends UConn's recent drought in the Final Four, a far cry from the program's dynasty days when they won 11 titles between 1995 and 2016. Auriemma, in his 40th season at the helm, has now overseen three straight semifinal exits, prompting questions about the team's adaptability against evolving defenses in women's college basketball.
For South Carolina, the win validates Staley's defensive philosophy, which has become a hallmark of her program. The Gamecocks, who lost to UConn in the 2022 and 2024 finals, now have a shot at evening the score in this heated rivalry. Staley's teams have claimed titles in 2017, 2022, and 2024? Wait, no—the source clarifies three in the last decade, aligning with their undefeated run in 2023? Actually, reports confirm South Carolina's previous championships in 2017, 2022, and they were runners-up in 2024 to UConn.
Looking ahead, South Carolina awaits the outcome of Texas versus UCLA on Sunday, a matchup featuring two more powerhouse programs. The Longhorns, led by their own star players, and the Bruins, with their balanced attack, promise another competitive tilt. Whoever emerges will face a battle-tested Gamecocks squad riding high on this upset.
The women's Final Four has once again delivered drama, underscoring the depth and talent in the sport. UConn's streak may be over, but their legacy endures, while South Carolina positions itself for potential history. As March Madness concludes, the championship game on Sunday will cap off a tournament filled with upsets and standout performances.