An epic rematch takes the court Friday night, as 2025 NCAA title contenders South Carolina and UConn tip off the Final Four in Phoenix. The showdown pits the nation's top two women's basketball programs against each other — with a championship berth on the line.
Riding a perfect 38-0 record, the Huskies face the Gamecocks for the first time since pulling off last year's 82-59 championship win. UConn previously defeated South Carolina during the 2024/25 regular season, though Huskies coach Geno Auriemma knows history means little now.
"This is a different South Carolina team than the one we played last year," Auriemma said. "Our two wins against them last year don't really mean anything going into tomorrow."
UConn sophomore Sarah Strong swept National Player of the Year honors on Thursday, winning both Naismith National Player of the Year and AP National Player of the Year recognition. Strong joins fellow sharpshooters Azzi Fudd and Blanca Quiñonez on a Huskies squad that ranks second nationally in 3-point shooting.
South Carolina counters with elite frontcourt size and athleticism. The 6-foot-6 Madina Okot and 6-foot-3 Joyce Edwards form an interior force capable of overwhelming opponents on the glass. Coach Dawn Staley has led the Gamecocks to three championships over the last eight seasons, including the legendary 2024 unbeaten squad.
"It's become a rivalry, and everybody wants to see," Staley said of the rematch. "It's two programs battling for supremacy."
While UConn chases its 13th national title as the odds-on favorite, Staley acknowledged her team might need "a bad night" from the Huskies to swing the outcome. Last year's meetings saw UConn's offensive precision slice through South Carolina's defense, with Fudd scoring 28 points in the regular-season matchup and 24 in the title game.
"We're going to treat the game like it's the biggest game we've played all year — and it is," Fudd said. "We respect this team a lot."
How to Watch UConn vs. South Carolina in the 2026 Final Four
South Carolina takes on UConn on Friday, April 3rd at 7 PM ET, live on ESPN.
The winner advances to Sunday's national championship game.
