It all comes down to the South Carolina Gamecocks and UConn Huskies yet again. The two juggernauts will be going head-to-head. The No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks (35–3) are looking to wrap up their perfect season. Meanwhile, the No. 2 seed UConn Huskies (36–3) are coming in equally strong.
The Huskies are coming in with a +1159 scoring differential, dropping an average of 81.7 points per game and holding teams to a national-best 52.0. And, of course, there’s Paige Bueckers, averaging 20 points a night. But on the sidelines, there is legendary Aliyah Boston. And she is not there for the Huskies.
Aliyah Boston On The Sidelines Cheering On Gamecocks And Her Former Coach
Moments before the tip-off, the cameras caught a familiar face on the sidelines. It is none other than the WNBA phenom and Dawn Staley prodigy, Aliyah Boston. She was living it, hyping up the squad and smiling widely for fans. This return feels like a full-circle moment for Boston.
After all, Boston was the heart and soul of South Carolina during her time there. There is no forgetting the iconic moments of 2022. Boston went on to take down UConn in the national title game. She had 11 points and 16 boards, which was her 30th double-double of the season. That was South Carolina’s second championship win. And she walked away with the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
. @aa_boston in the building supporting the Gamecocks 🤙#MarchMadness x #WFinalFour x @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/oACdkjRUdz
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 6, 2025
In her senior season, Boston led her team to a 42-game winning streak and again earned unanimous First-Team All-American honors. Her college story was filled with buzzer-beaters, big-time boards, and heartbreak. In 2023, the Gamecocks faced an upset against Iowa. And unfortunately, that was Boston’s last collegiate year. So, Aliyah Boston, this time, is very much there to watch her former team take down the UConn Huskies yet again.
And the stats the Gamecocks are bringing in are no joke. They’re +846 scoring differential, putting up nearly 80 points per game while only giving up 57.4. They have Joyce Edwards leading the scoreboard and Chloe Kitts pulling down boards with a 7.8 average per game. On defense, the Gamecocks have 15.8 turnovers a night and have kept their opponents to 29.4% from deep. The Gamecocks are as strong as ever.
There is no doubt that Aliyah Boston sees it, too. Even while she’s killing it on the WNBA hardcourts, she has made time to return and rep her roots. This past season, she helped the Indiana Fever grab Caitlin Clark as the No. 1 pick in the draft and is now set to play in the new Unrivaled 3-on-3 league.
While the schedule is full, her heart is still in Columbia with the Staley squad. With Aliyah Boston cheering courtside, this Gamecocks team is playing for legacy. And if history repeats itself?
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Let’s just say the Huskies might want to brace for some déjà vu.
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