Despite a rockier road than usual, Dawn Staley and reigning national champion South Carolina are back in the NCAA championship. The Gamecocks (35-3) defeated SEC rival Texas 74-57 Friday in the Final Four to earn a spot in Sunday’s title game against UConn (36-3), which crushed No. 1 overall seed UCLA 85-51.
Earlier this season, Geno Auriemma’s Huskies dominated South Carolina 87-58 in Columbia on Feb. 16. Sunday’s matchup marks the seventh instance of the AP preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams meeting in the national final.
South Carolina and UConn last clashed for the title in 2022, when the Gamecocks emerged victorious after both squads opened that season ranked first and second, respectively.
Everything Dawn Staley and South Carolina Said After Punching Their Ticket to the Title Game
Following a dominant 74-57 victory over Texas in the Final Four, Staley and her players shared their thoughts on advancing to another national championship appearance.
Staley credited her team’s depth for consistently delivering throughout the season, especially when they fell behind early against Texas. She emphasized the maturity and readiness of her bench players, particularly freshmen Tessa Johnson and MiLaysia Fulwiley, who entered the game when South Carolina trailed 12-4.
“It’s what we’ve counted on them all season long ever since last year,” Staley said. “Our depth has been a part of the success of our program. I mean, they can start, both of them.”
Staley went on to explain why players like Johnson and Fulwiley chose South Carolina.
“They chose to come to us because, one, you’re going to learn how to play, like really gonna learn how to play. Two, you’re gonna play a competitive schedule, three you’re gonna play in front of the best fans in the country at an almost capacity clip. They want to be pros. We produce pros.”
Senior guard Te-Hina Paopao played a critical role on both ends, finishing with a team-high 14 points and two steals. She made an early defensive statement, forcing a turnover just minutes into the contest.
“I went to go get the steal just because I also missed my other free throw,” Paopao said. “I wanted to, you know, redeem myself, and that’s what I did.”
Joyce Edwards, who had struggled earlier in the tournament, delivered a strong performance and spoke candidly about staying level-headed through adversity.
“It wasn’t if, it was when,” Edwards said. “I just did what the game gave me.” She credited her coaches, teammates, and family for helping her maintain confidence. “My coaches comfort me, my teammates comfort me, my family comfort me… made sure that I kept my mindset at a just an even-keel level.”
KEEP READING: UConn vs. South Carolina Prediction: Dawn Staley’s Revenge Game
Paopao praised Edwards’ growth and poise.
“She’s a great player. Her ceiling is very high… we need her and we trust her,” Paopao said. “She came at the right time.”
Now, South Carolina shifts its focus to UConn in the title game, aiming for another championship under Staley’s leadership.
Don’t miss a moment of March Madness! Download your 2025 NCAA Tournament printable bracket and stay on top of every game, matchup, and Cinderella story. Get yours now!
