South Carolina avenges itself in tough Final Four surprise, bringing UConn’s flawless season to an end.

South Carolina Stuns UW to Advance to National Championship

PHOENIX — Redemption isn’t always easy to come by. But for the University of South Carolina, the opportunity to take down a powerhouse was too sweet to pass up.

The Gamecocks, featuring standout sophomore Joyce Edwards and savvy senior Raven Johnson, exacted revenge for last year’s championship defeat. On Friday night, they topped the top-seeded Huskies 62-48, earning a spot in the national championship game.

This match felt more like a gritty brawl than a basketball game; both teams struggled to make shots, and defense ruled the night. It was intense, with the atmosphere akin to a wrestling match.

South Carolina was physically dominant, pushing the Huskies, who hadn’t encountered such intensity all season. In a pre-quarter interview, head coach Geno Auriemma didn’t hold back his frustrations.

He criticized the officiating, declaring on live TV, “There were six fouls called in that quarter, and they were all against us.” Auriemma suggested that South Carolina’s coaching staff was influencing the referees negatively.

Despite his passionate remarks, Auriemma’s words couldn’t alter the game’s course. South Carolina was riding high on momentum and determination.

In the end, South Carolina maintained their lead. The match wasn’t aesthetically pleasing; shots just didn’t connect, and the Huskies forced more turnovers than their coach would’ve preferred. The game was tight at halftime, with the Gamecocks leading by just two points.

After halftime, things shifted. South Carolina surged, outscoring the Huskies 12-2, extending their lead to 36-28 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter. The South Carolina fans erupted, while the Huskies appeared drained.

However, teams like UConn are never truly out of contention. Even with a double-digit advantage, it seemed like a comeback was just around the corner.

Kaylee Heckel ignited the rally from the corner. Freshman talent Blanca Quinones followed with a three-pointer from the top, and soon Aji Fuad joined the scoring spree with his first successful shot after a rough start.

Suddenly, the game was tied—a tense moment that felt all too familiar for the Gamecocks, who desperately wanted a different outcome.

But South Carolina didn’t back down. They reclaimed a five-point lead in the fourth quarter, holding their ground against the Huskies. When Quinones sank a free throw, the gap narrowed to two points with less than seven minutes remaining, but this was likely the closest UW would get.

As the clock wound down to under two minutes and Tanya Latson stood at the free-throw line, the Gamecocks sensed victory on the horizon. A chance to claim a national title was within their grasp.

In a heartbreaking end for UW, South Carolina fans erupted in celebration. Not everyone finds another opportunity to topple a giant, but South Carolina made the most of theirs.