South Carolina Advances to Championship Game
PHOENIX — South Carolina secured a spot in the national championship game, beating UConn 62-48 in the first semifinal match on Friday night in Phoenix, Arizona.
The game showcased intense defense and aggressive tactics, keeping things close for most of the match. Tension escalated in the final moments when two prominent women’s basketball coaches, Geno Auriemma of UConn and Dawn Staley of South Carolina, found themselves embroiled in a heated exchange.
These teams are familiar rivals, having faced off last year in the national championship where UConn triumphed. ESPN’s Kareem Copeland offered insights from a different perspective.
In a post-third-quarter interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Auriemma expressed his frustration over what he called a lack of fouls called against the Gamecocks.
After the game, Rowe interviewed Staley on the court. During the post-game press conference, she was asked to clarify her conversation with Auriemma.
“You should ask Geno about it. He initiated the conversation, and I don’t want that incident to overshadow what we achieved today,” Staley stated. “The difference, I think, lies in experience. A painful loss feels like a loss, but I understand why it happened. UConn is a well-oiled machine. If you let them play freely, they’ll dominate. Our goal was to make them shoot as inefficiently as possible. Our team took good shots.”
The first inquiry at Auriemma’s post-game press conference addressed his encounter with Staley. He simply replied, “I said what I needed to say. Nothing more.”
When asked again about his remarks to Staley and whether he regretted anything he told Rowe, Auriemma was candid.
“I don’t regret what I said to Holly Rowe. Why would I? I’m here to coach. I’ve never had a player change jerseys because a referee missed a call. A lot of things happened, and you won’t know unless you’re on the sideline. Have you ever witnessed 25 Final Fours meet at half court to shake hands before a game? I waited for about three minutes,” he explained.
Defensive Strategy of South Carolina
The Gamecocks had a stellar defensive game, led by SEC Defensive Player of the Year Raven Johnson. They faced UConn’s Player of the Year finalists, Sarah Strong and Azee Fudd, and rose to the challenge.
Johnson and sophomore Joyce Edwards were key in guarding Strong and Fudd. Strong, who typically averages 18.6 points per game, managed just 12, while Fudd’s eight points marked the fourth time this season he scored under ten.
“Raven excels in every matchup,” Staley noted. “Strong isn’t the tallest opponent she’s faced. We positioned her to guard a bigger player from Kentucky. Raven is fearless in defense and takes pride in preventing scores. When you have a guard with elite defensive skills, great things happen.”
Edwards had an all-around impressive game, contributing 11 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and one block.
“We executed exceptional team defense,” said senior transfer Tanya Latson. “We stuck closely to the scouting plan. Coach Mary (Woolley) clearly laid out our game plan. We were focused during shootaround, understanding their tendencies. Our execution was on point.”
A Noteworthy Freshman Performance
Freshman Agot Maker also stood out during the semifinal, scoring 14 points—just behind Latson’s 16. During the Elite Eight against TCU, Maker had a season-high of 18 points. His speed and agility were evident, as he also recorded four rebounds, one steal, and two assists in Phoenix.
South Carolina has a reputation for freshmen making an impact in the latter part of the season. Tessa Johnson earned NCAA Final Four All-Tournament honors in 2024, averaging 14 points per game and shooting nearly 59% during that crucial weekend.
