NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Game: UConn vs. South Carolina

TAMPA, Fla. — The UConn Huskies defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 82–59 on Sunday afternoon at Amalie Arena, securing their 12th national championship — the most in NCAA Division I basketball history, men’s or women’s.

The victory was a special one for the Huskies, who showcased dominance from start to finish.

“Very validating to all the hard work that we put in as individuals and as a team,” said junior guard Paige Bueckers. “How much we stuck together through the good times and the bad, and how connected we were. We felt like we were so connected and nothing could break us.”

Star guards Azzi Fudd and Bueckers, along with freshman forward Sarah Strong, led the way for UConn. Their combined force proved too much for South Carolina.

UConn jumped out to a 19–14 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second, the Huskies closed out the half on a 10–4 run to lead by 10 at the break.

The third quarter was decisive, as UConn’s big three — Fudd, Strong and Bueckers — exploded offensively to give the Huskies a 20-point advantage heading into the final period.

The trio combined for 23 points in the third quarter alone and helped UConn finish the game on a 12–3 run.

Fudd, named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, finished with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting. The performance was especially meaningful for Fudd, who has battled through multiple knee surgeries and seasons shortened by injury.

She was UConn’s second-leading scorer throughout the tournament, averaging 21 points per game.

Strong posted a dominant double-double, recording 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Bueckers added 17 points — two below her season average — but impacted the game in multiple ways with six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal.

As a team, UConn shot nearly 50% from the field, while South Carolina struggled, shooting just 34%. Eight Gamecocks players shot under 35% from the field.

South Carolina’s top scorers — freshman forward Joyce Edwards and guard Milaysia Fulwiley — finished below their season averages, as did starting forward Chloe Kitts. No Gamecocks player scored in double figures, while UConn’s top two players each scored 24.

“I feel like we just missed a lot of shots, to be honest,” Edwards said. “A lot of the easy shots that we usually hit, we missed. But credit to UConn’s defense — I mean, they were in the gaps, you know? But at the same time, I felt like we got to where we wanted to be, we just had to finish.”

South Carolina has reached the national championship game in three of the last four seasons and has advanced to the Final Four each of the past four years.

A win would have given head coach Dawn Staley her fourth national title, tying her with LSU’s Kim Mulkey for the most championships by a Division I women’s basketball

Kiera Baker is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email ksb5617@psu.edu.