The South Carolina Gamecocks pulled off what no other team had managed in over a year: they toppled the seemingly invincible UConn Huskies, snapping a 54-game winning streak and advancing to their third consecutive national championship game. On Friday night at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, the Gamecocks delivered a defensive masterclass, defeating the defending national champions 62-48 in a Final Four rematch that lived up to its billing—and then some.
With the eyes of the college basketball world glued to ESPN at 7:00 PM ET, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. UConn entered the contest undefeated at 38-0, riding a wave of dominance that included a record 12 national championships and a recent 70-52 dismantling of Notre Dame in the Fort Worth 1 regional final. South Carolina, meanwhile, boasted a 35-3 record and was making its sixth straight Final Four appearance under Dawn Staley, having breezed through the Sacramento 4 regional with commanding victories over Oklahoma and TCU.
But from the opening tip, it was clear this game would be decided by grit and defense. South Carolina’s game plan was simple yet brutally effective: stifle UConn’s stars, contest every pass, and own the glass. The Gamecocks executed it to perfection, holding the Huskies to a season-low 31% shooting and just 48 points—their lowest total all year. As ESPN’s Charlie Creme observed, “South Carolina’s best teams under Dawn Staley have been recognized for their defense, but none of them might compare to what this squad did to the previously unbeaten Huskies on Friday night.”
Joyce Edwards and Raven Johnson were defensive anchors, drawing the toughest assignments on UConn’s All-Americans Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. Strong, who had averaged 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.4 steals per game, was limited to just 4-of-16 shooting. Fudd, usually good for 17.5 points per night, was harassed into a 3-for-15 performance—including just 2-of-9 from beyond the arc. The duo combined for only seven field goals on 31 attempts. “South Carolina’s ball pressure and physicality were more than the Huskies had experienced this season,” noted Creme. “Joyce Edwards’ defense on Sarah Strong triggered that effectiveness.”
It wasn’t just defense that powered the Gamecocks. Offensively, senior Ta’Niya Latson delivered her first double-double of the season, pouring in 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Latson, a transfer from Florida State who led Division I in scoring as a junior, was relentless, drawing six fouls and converting all ten of her free throws. Freshman Agot Makeer stepped up in a big way, scoring 14 points—her fifth straight double-digit performance in the NCAA tournament after a regular season with only three such games. Edwards chipped in 11 points and eight boards, setting a new South Carolina single-season record with 760 points.
Still, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Gamecocks. Their 37.5% shooting was their third-worst mark of the season, but they compensated by dominating the boards (47-32) and earning an 18-6 edge at the free-throw line. Madina Okot and Johnson also played pivotal roles, with Okot tipping in a crucial putback late in the fourth quarter to halt a potential UConn rally.
For UConn, the loss was as shocking as it was decisive. The Huskies, favored by 6.5 points and averaging 87.9 points per game, looked out of sync offensively all night. They managed just 11 field goals on 44 attempts and were visibly rattled by South Carolina’s relentless pressure. The absence of Paige Bueckers, last year’s WNBA No. 1 draft pick and Rookie of the Year, loomed large. “If there was ever a game where Paige Bueckers’ absence was notable, it was Friday,” wrote Michael Voepel. “They needed her swagger.”
Even so, there were moments when it seemed the Huskies might claw back. Early in the third quarter, UConn hit three consecutive three-pointers, trimming South Carolina’s lead to a single point at 40-39. But the Gamecocks never flinched. They answered with poise and key buckets, never letting the Huskies seize momentum. As Creme put it, “South Carolina remained the team with more poise, never letting the lead get away.”
The drama didn’t end with the final buzzer. As the teams lined up for the customary postgame handshake, a heated exchange erupted between legendary coaches Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley. Words were exchanged, tempers flared, and staffers had to intervene to separate the two Hall of Famers. According to ESPN’s Kareem Copeland, Staley was heard repeating, “I’ll beat Geno’s ass,” as she was restrained by her staff. Auriemma, for his part, later said he had no regrets about his approach, underscoring the fierce competitiveness that has defined both coaches’ careers. “That’s the kind of anomaly that you don’t forget,” Copeland remarked of the incident.
While the sideline fireworks grabbed headlines, Staley was quick to redirect attention to her team’s achievement. “Staley said she didn’t want that moment to take away from the accomplishment of her team, and it didn’t,” noted Copeland. Indeed, the Gamecocks’ victory was about more than just ending a streak—it was a statement of intent from a program that has become a perennial powerhouse, with national championships in 2017, 2022, and 2024 already under its belt.
The loss marked UConn’s largest margin of defeat since falling to South Carolina by 18 points in February 2024. It also echoed other Final Four heartbreaks for the Huskies, who were undefeated entering the semifinals in 2017 and 2018, only to lose on dramatic last-second shots. This time, though, the defeat felt different—less about a single play and more about being thoroughly outplayed by a hungry, confident opponent.
With the win, South Carolina advanced to Sunday’s national championship game, where they’ll face the UCLA Bruins, who edged Texas 51-44 in the other semifinal. The Bruins, led by senior center Lauren Betts and guard Kiki Rice, will try to slow down a Gamecocks squad that just toppled the sport’s gold standard. For now, South Carolina’s victory stands as a testament to the power of defense, resilience, and belief—qualities that could very well carry them to yet another title.
As the dust settles in Phoenix, one thing is certain: the 2026 Women’s Final Four delivered drama, intensity, and a reminder that in March Madness, anything can happen. The Gamecocks are still dancing, and the Huskies—at least for now—are left searching for answers.