In a stunning display of dominance, the UConn Huskies made history at Tampa’s Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025, demolishing top-seeded UCLA 85-51 in the Women’s Final Four. The 34-point blowout represents one of the most lopsided victories ever against a No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history sending shockwaves through the basketball world.
The Huskies established their authority early building a 10-point lead after the first quarter and extending it to 20 by halftime. UCLA never threatened UConn’s lead as the game progressed into a historic rout with the Huskies outscoring the Bruins in every quarter and showcasing why they remain one of women’s basketball’s most feared programs.
Huskies Stars Shine Bright in Historic Victory
Freshman sensation Sarah Strong led the charge for UConn pouring in 22 points as part of her impressive tournament run. Her performance highlighted the depth of talent on display for the Huskies who have now secured their spot in yet another national championship.
UConn’s 85-51 win marks the largest win margin in Final Four history
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Azzi Fudd contributed 19 points which were all scored during a blistering first half that helped establish UConn’s commanding lead. Her efficient shooting complemented Paige Bueckers’ continued excellence as the redshirt senior remains determined to capture the only accolade missing from her collegiate resume: a national championship.
UConn’s defensive intensity proved equally remarkable forcing UCLA into more turnovers than made field goals during critical stretches. Despite facing the tournament’s top overall seed, the Huskies maintained relentless pressure throughout all 40 minutes of play.
Continuing a Legacy of Dominance Against UCLA
The historic victory extends a long-standing pattern of UConn’s success against UCLA with the Huskies now holding a commanding 7-1 lead in their all-time series.
Prior to UCLA’s lone victory in November 2023 during the Cayman Islands Classic, UConn had won seven straight matchups dating back to 1998.
This Final Four demolition serves as a powerful response to UCLA’s breakthrough win in 2023 demonstrating that UConn’s historical dominance over the Bruins remains firmly intact.
This winning margin of 34 points surpasses any other win UConn has recorded against UCLA which spanned from an 86-50 victory at Mohegan Sun Arena in 2014 to a 106-64 blowout at Gampel Pavilion in 1999 because this time UCLA came as a No. 1 seed and also this was a Final Four matchup.
The significance of this achievement grows stronger because the victory happened during the peak event of college basketball.
UConn secured their largest victory over UCLA at the Final Four although they had beaten them twice in previous Sweet 16 appearances (2017 and 2019) with scores of 86-71 and 69-61 respectively.
The historic victory marks UConn’s record 24th trip to the NCAA Final Four solidifying their position as the most successful women’s college basketball program in history.
Under legendary coach Geno Auriemma, the Huskies have won an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 140-24 the highest winning percentage in the sport.
KEEP READING: How Many Points Did Paige Bueckers Score Tonight?
The Huskies advance now to play South Carolina on Sunday’s championship game in a matchup between two power programs.
While the Gamecocks go for their third title in four years, UConn looks to win its first since 2016 and write another victorious page into their storied program history.
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