UConn defeats UCLA in Final Four, sets up national championship game vs. South Carolina

It didn’t take long for UConn to make its presence known in Friday’s Final Four matchup against UCLA. The Huskies dominated in the first half to take a 20-point lead into halftime – and they never looked back as they advanced to the national championship game.

UConn shut down UCLA’s outside shooting en route to the 85-51 victory, which now puts the Huskies in position for a high-profile rematch against South Carolina in Tampa. It was also a big shooting night for Geno Auriemma’s group, which is heading back to the national championship game for the first time since 2022.

On the offensive end Friday night, the Huskies got massive performances from Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong. Strong led the charge with 22 points, including 12 in the second half, while Fudd dropped all 19 of her points in the first half to help UConn take a commanding lead. Strong also had eight rebounds on the night.

Paige Bueckers was also impressive with 16 points and five rebounds. It was part of an all-around effort for the Huskies, who shot 55% from the field.

As for UCLA, Lauren Betts led the Bruins with 26 points. Kiki Rice finished the night with eight points, making her the only other player on the roster to reach that number as the UConn defense shut down the UCLA offense, particularly keeping the Bruins to just 4-for-16 shooting from three-point distance.

UConn’s victory followed a huge performance from South Carolina as the Gamecocks took down Texas in Friday’s Final Four opener. The Longhorns kept things close in the first half, but a dominant third quarter allowed South Carolina to take full control and never look back.

The Gamecocks got a balanced scoring attack in the third quarter as they created separation. Five different players scored in the frame, led by Bree Hall’s five points, as South Carolina went 9-for-16 from the field. On the Texas side, the Longhorns went just 4-for-14 as a group with just three players scoring.

Te-Hina Paopao led South Carolina with 14 points while Joyce Edwards had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. She also added six assists, further showcasing the impact she had off the bench in the victory. Hall was the third Gamecocks player to hit double figures with 11 points in the effort.

Sunday’s game will also be an intriguing rematch. UConn blew out South Carolina during the regular season in an 87-58 victory in Columbia, which is yet another storyline around the national championship. Sunday’s game will tip off at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.