South Carolina Faces UCLA NCAA Championship Showdown/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ South Carolina returns to the NCAA championship game after defeating UConn in the Final Four. UCLA enters its first title game following a defensive win over Texas. The matchup features a powerhouse program against a rising contender.
- South Carolina reaches fourth title game in five years
- Gamecocks defeat UConn 62-48 in Final Four
- UCLA advances after beating Texas 51-44
- South Carolina seeks fourth title in nine years
- UCLA chasing first NCAA championship
- Dawn Staley vs Cori Close coaching showdown
- Defensive battle expected between both teams
- UCLA enters with 36-1 record
- Gamecocks add star transfer Ta’Niya Latson
- Championship game set for Sunday
PHOENIX — South Carolina is back in familiar territory, returning to the women’s NCAA championship game for the fourth time in five years. Standing in the Gamecocks’ way of another national title is a determined UCLA team making its first appearance in the championship game.
Coach Dawn Staley’s South Carolina squad advanced with a dominant defensive performance, defeating UConn 62-48 in the Final Four and snapping the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak. The victory placed the Gamecocks one win away from capturing their fourth national championship in the past nine years.
UCLA earned its championship berth with an equally defensive-minded performance, grinding out a 51-44 victory over Texas in the national semifinals. The Bruins’ win prevented what would have been the first all-SEC championship matchup since 2017, when South Carolina defeated Mississippi State for its first national title.
That 2017 championship marked the beginning of South Carolina’s rise to national prominence under Staley, a run that has made the Gamecocks one of the most dominant programs in women’s college basketball over the past decade.
Despite UCLA’s lack of championship game experience, Bruins coach Cori Close expressed respect for South Carolina’s success and the leadership Staley has brought to the sport.
“Dawn does such a great job and is a standard-bearer in our sport,” Close said. “Thankful for what they’ve done, not just for South Carolina, but for the game. We also are an incredibly competitive, confident group. I’m sure they are as well. All you can ask for is to play your best basketball for a national championship.”
UCLA has been on a determined path this season following last year’s Final Four loss to UConn, which marked the program’s first-ever appearance in the national semifinals. With much of the core roster returning and several key additions, the Bruins dominated throughout the season.
UCLA’s only loss came in November against Texas during a tournament in Las Vegas. Since then, the Bruins have rolled through the season, capturing both the Big Ten regular-season and conference tournament championships.
Now, UCLA faces its biggest challenge yet against a South Carolina team that showcased its defensive strength against UConn. The Gamecocks controlled the game from start to finish, frustrating the Huskies and ending their long winning streak.
The conclusion of that semifinal game also featured a tense moment, as Staley and UConn coach Geno Auriemma needed to be separated during a heated exchange following the final buzzer.
South Carolina’s path to the championship game has also included roster adjustments. Staley entered the season with uncertainty due to injuries and the integration of star transfer Ta’Niya Latson from Florida State.
Latson, who led the nation in scoring last season, transferred to South Carolina seeking a chance to compete for a national championship.
“This is why I came to South Carolina,” Latson said. “It was a personal sacrifice that I had to make. I mean, I know a lot of people don’t get that, they don’t understand my why. This is my why. This is why I came to South Carolina.”
UCLA, meanwhile, enters the championship game with an experienced lineup. The Bruins’ starting five, led by standout center Lauren Betts, consists entirely of seniors or graduate players, giving the team valuable leadership despite its lack of championship game experience.
The Bruins are also aiming to add another championship banner to the program’s history. UCLA previously won the 1978 AIAW title, which was the primary postseason tournament for women’s basketball before the NCAA began sponsoring championships in 1982.
Sunday’s championship game sets up a compelling matchup between an established powerhouse and a rising contender. South Carolina seeks to add another title to its growing legacy, while UCLA looks to capture its first NCAA championship and cap off one of the most successful seasons in program history.
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