Every Final Four is historic, but South Carolina ensured that 2026 would be one that none of us will forget.
They defeated unbeaten and No. 1-overall seed UConn 62-48, with the Gamecocks advancing to the national championship game as they ended the Huskies’ perfect season and 54-game winning streak. In the second Final Four game, UCLA beat Texas 51-44 to reach the program’s first NCAA title game.
Now the stage is set for the national title with South Carolina taking on UCLA on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix.
South Carolina was ready to ruin UConn’s repeat
The UConn-South Carolina game began with intensity, with officials allowing plenty of physicality as the two teams battled for a spot in the national title game.
In the end, the Gamecocks got the better of the Huskies, and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, didn’t deal with it well, having a run-in with head coach Dawn Staley during the closing seconds of the game.
On the court, South Carolina established the rules of engagement early. They were physical and aggressive, and the game was defensive throughout the first half. Entering the third quarter, UConn was up 26-24.
In the third, Madina Okot was scoring inside for South Carolina, and Ta’Niya Latson was distributing the ball and knocking down free throws as they pulled away from UConn.
The game remained physical, so much so that UConn’s Sarah Strong apparently ripped her jersey in frustration.
This was the beginning of Auriemma’s frustration with the officiating and physicality. He had an in-game interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe and made it clear he was frustrated with the situation.
UConn responded and got within two points of South Carolina, but a basket by Maddy McDaniel and a 3 by Agot Makeer gave the Gamecocks a seven-point edge.
Strong hit a 3 to cut the deficit down, but then South Carolina went on an incredible 11-0 run to put this game to bed.
UConn’s 48-point performance was the first time they’ve been held under 50 points since the 2022 championship game—when they also lost to South Carolina.
In this win, Latson led the charge with 16 points. Makeer, Joyce Edwards and Tessa Johnson also reached double figures, scoring 14 points, 11 points and 10 points, respectively. Okot had six points and nine rebounds in the win. For UConn, Strong finished with double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Ashlynn Shade scored 10 points, and Azzi Fudd underperformed, scoring just eight points on 3-for-15 shooting.
Thanks to elite defense, UCLA will keep on dancing
Scoring was even more scarce in the night’s second game.
Texas struggled shooting in the opening quarter, converting just 25 percent of their shots. With the Longhorns unable to score, the Bruins took advantage and jumped ahead 14-6 after ten minutes of play.
Madison Booker continued to struggle shooting during the rest of the opening half. She started 1-for-12 from the field. However, Texas did get some offense from their defensive-minded guard Rori Harmon. She scored eight points in the first half, and the Longhorns trailed by just three at the break.
Defense continued to define the second half, as neither team could really get their offense going. Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez scored for UCLA to keep them in front throughout the third. With Booker on the bench, Justice Carlton stepped up for the Longhorns, scoring seven-unanswered points to slice the deficit down to one. Jaquez knocked down a pair of free throws, and UCLA was in front 31-28 to begin the fourth quarter.
Betts scored from the charity stripe to get UCLA started in the final frame. Kiki Rice converted on 3, and after a Jaquez layup, the Bruins were up by 10 points, forcing Texas to call a timeout.
Texas rallied back, slowly chipping away at the lead. Kyla Oldacre scored on a layup, and Harmon’s steal led to a Jordan Lee basket, putting Texas within three. UCLA failed to score on the other side, but Betts had a monster block on Booker to keep the Bruins in front with 18.1 seconds to go.
Rice was fouled immediately once the ball was inbound and made her free throws. Booker drove to the rim for Texas, but stumbled and fumbled the ball, and after another pair of free throws for Rice, UCLA had the victory clinched.
Betts had 16 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Gianna Kneepkens and Jaquez each scored 10. For Texas, Booker never found a rhythm. She went 3-for-23 from the field, scoring just six points. Oldacre had a productive game, scoring a team-high 11 points on 50 percent shooting.
