South Carolina Ends UConn's 54-Game Streak, Advances to NCAA Championship

South Carolina's women's basketball team secured a 62-48 victory over previously undefeated UConn in the NCAA Final Four, ending the Huskies' 54-game winning streak and advancing to the national championship game. Ta'Niya Latson led the Gamecocks with 16 points, while Agot Makeer contributed 14. The Gamecocks' defense held UConn to 31.1% shooting from the field, with standout player Sarah Strong limited to 12 points on 4-for-16 shooting.

The Gamecocks will face the winner of the Texas and UCLA semifinal on Sunday, aiming for their fourth national championship. UConn, entering the Final Four undefeated for the ninth time, scored its fewest points since a 2022 national championship game loss to South Carolina.

Postgame tensions arose when UConn coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley engaged in a heated exchange. Auriemma expressed frustration over a missed pregame handshake and the physicality of the game, including an incident where Strong's jersey was ripped. Staley responded, "I have no idea... I'm of integrity. So if I did something wrong, to Geno, I had no idea what I did."

The Gamecocks' defensive performance was pivotal, as they held UConn to its lowest point total since 2022. This victory highlights South Carolina's resilience and defensive prowess against one of women's college basketball's top programs.