The drought is over. After nine years of heartbreak and near-misses, the UConn Huskies are once again the queens of college basketball, demolishing previously undefeated South Carolina 82-59 in Sunday’s championship game to claim their record-extending 12th national title.
This wasn’t just another trophy for the dynasty – this was redemption.
“It’s been a story of resilience, of gratitude, of overcoming adversity and just responding to life’s challenges,” said an emotional Paige Bueckers, whose championship journey embodied UConn’s struggles and ultimate triumph.
The Perfect Symphony
The Huskies orchestrated basketball perfection on Sunday night, methodically dismantling a South Carolina team that entered the final with a perfect 35-0 record. It was a masterclass that showcased why UConn’s championship DNA remains unmatched in women’s basketball.
Dynamic sophomore Azzi Fudd, who missed most of last season with a devastating knee injury, erupted for 24 points to earn Most Outstanding Player honors. Freshman phenom Sarah Strong matched Fudd’s output with 24 points of her own, while Bueckers – expected to be the WNBA’s top draft pick on April 14 – added 17 points in her championship farewell.
The Gamecocks, meanwhile, had no answer. Their leading scorers – freshman Joyce Edwards and sophomore Tessa Johnson – managed just 10 points each, the fewest by any team’s leading scorer in women’s NCAA final history.
“They did a masterful job in executing on both sides of the basketball,” acknowledged South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, whose team finished 35-4 after their championship dreams were shattered.
The Road Through Heartbreak
The victory was especially sweet considering UConn’s journey through nearly a decade of disappointment:
- The shocking end to their 111-game winning streak on a buzzer-beater in the 2017 Final Four
- Four more semifinal heartbreaks (2018, 2019, 2021, 2024)
- A championship game loss to South Carolina in 2022
- Missing the 2023 Final Four while Bueckers recovered from knee surgery
With time running out and victory secure on Sunday, Bueckers – the face of the program through its challenging years – buried her tear-streaked face in coach Geno Auriemma’s shoulder as she exited to thunderous applause. Mission accomplished at last.
A Dynasty Reborn
The Huskies weren’t perfect this season, something only six of their championship teams have achieved. But after an 80-76 stumble at Tennessee on February 6, they never lost again. They swept through the Big East regular season and tournament before embarking on a dominant NCAA Tournament run that included victories over three No. 1 seeds – USC, UCLA and finally South Carolina.
Their championship dominance remains unparalleled: UConn now has 12 Final Four wins by 20+ points. All other Division I women’s programs combined have just 11 such victories. Sunday’s 23-point margin ties for the third-largest in championship game history, trailing only previous UConn demolitions of Louisville (2013) and Syracuse (2016).
When asked before the game how she wanted to be remembered at UConn, Bueckers said: “As a great teammate, a great leader. I think those are the two most important things to me, just being somebody that people love to play with, make their teammates better, wears a UConn jersey with pride.”
She can now add “champion” to that legacy – the perfect ending to a story of perseverance, and perhaps the beginning of UConn’s next golden era with Strong leading the way.
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