The UConn vs. South Carolina Final Four game on Friday drew a lot of attention in this year’s women’s NCAA Tournament. It was played at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix and saw a star-studded attendance in the stands. Dawn Staley and her team secured a 62-48 victory to book their spot in this year’s championship game.
So who all were there to watch the Gamecocks face Geno Auriemma and his team?
One of the well-known people from football who attended the game was Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of Deion Sanders. He was seen posing for photos with fans backstage before the game.
U.S. Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher was also present. She was part of the ESPN “Courtside” crew along with WNBA stars Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman.
Apart from them, former South Carolina star Aaliyah Boston was also in the building, cheering on her alma mater. She spent four seasons with the program (2019-2023) and won one national championship. She then transitioned to the WNBA as the 2023 first overall pick for the Indiana Fever.
UConn also had its former players show up to support them at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Paige Bueckers and Diana Taurasi were seen sitting together in the stands to cheer on their former coach, Geno Auriemma.
Bueckers played for the Huskies from 2020 to 2025 and won the national championship in her final year. The Dallas Wings drafted her No. 1 overall in last year’s WNBA Draft.
On the other hand, Taurasi played under Auriemma from 2000 to 2004. She was part of the Huskies team that recorded a three-peat of the national championship. The three-time WNBA champion spent 20 seasons playing in the league before retiring last February.
Dawn Staley shares her thoughts on South Carolina exacting revenge on UConn after last year’s loss
Last season, the South Carolina Gamecocks faced UConn in the national championship game. However, it ended with Auriemma’s team taking home the trophy with an 82-59 victory.
In the postgame presser following this year’s Final Four victory, Dawn Staley opened up on getting redemption while highlighting this year’s game plan against them.
“The difference is, I mean, experience,” Staley said, as per On3. “I think losses, when you have losses that hurt, but you really understand the why, I think UConn was a really well-oiled machine.”
“Our whole objective was to get them to shoot as inefficiently as possible, make them put the ball on the floor. Don’t give them as many catch-and-shoot opportunities. I thought our kids really locked into that,” she added.
Can Dawn Staley win her fourth national championship with the Gamecocks this year?
Also Read: Teary-Eyed Dawn Staley Reacts After Heated Exchange With Geno Auriemma on the Sidelines
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