By Doug FeinbergThe Related Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The ladies’s Closing 4 is filled with star gamers, prime seeds and historic packages.
There will likely be no Cinderellas in Tampa, Florida, this week with No. 1 seeds South Carolina, UCLA and Texas within the nationwide semifinals. They’re joined by the betting favourite to win all of it, second-seeded UConn, which has been taking part in one of the best of any workforce over the previous month and knocked off a top-seeded Southern California workforce that was lacking its finest participant.
Coach Daybreak Staley and the defending champion Gamecocks are making their fifth straight journey to the Closing 4 and are two victories away from turning into the primary to repeat since UConn gained 4 straight from 2013-16.
South Carolina will face Southeastern Convention foe Texas for the fourth time this season in a single semifinal Friday night time. UConn will play UCLA within the different.
The Huskies are again within the Closing 4 for the second straight yr and and a document twenty fourth time total, and star Paige Bueckers is seeking to carry coach Geno Auriemma his twelfth title and first since that four-peat.
High total seed UCLA is taking part in within the Closing 4 of the ladies’s NCAA Event for the primary time. The Bruins gained a nationwide title in 1978 within the pre-NCAA period of girls’s basketball, led by Ann Meyers Drysdale, and returned to the Closing 4 the following yr.
That success hadn’t carried over to the NCAA earlier than this season.
No program has been to the Closing 4 greater than Auriemma’s Huskies, who had a document run of 14 consecutive Closing 4 appearances snapped in 2023. Their 11 nationwide titles are essentially the most of any workforce.
Right here’s a take a look at the matchups:
South Carolina vs. Texas
The groups break up two regular-season conferences, successful on their house courts. The Gamecocks took the rubber match, successful the SEC Event title by 17 factors. The Gamecocks have gained three titles prior to now eight years, however this yr’s squad has been examined within the postseason. They gained each video games within the Birmingham Regional by 4 factors, topping Maryland and Duke.
Of their victories over Texas this season, the Gamecocks held the Longhorns underneath 30% capturing. In South Carolina’s loss, Texas shot 44%.
“Ton of experiences to draw from and learn from,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer mentioned. “Got to learn and be different. That’s the thing about their team, Dawn’s teams. You know you’ll get the same from them that you try to impart on others too. They are going to be tough, aggressive, physical. If you don’t bring an edge with you at the fight it won’t be much fun.”
There’s loads of star energy on each groups with Rori Harmon and Madison Booker main Texas whereas Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts and MiLaysia Fulwiley are the highest gamers for the Gamecocks.
Texas is within the Closing 4 for the primary time since 2003. Schaefer grew to become the fifth coach to take at the very least two groups to the Closing 4, becoming a member of Marianne Stanley, Gary Blair and Kim Mulkey. C. Vivian Stringer took three faculties to the nationwide semifinals. Schaefer led Mississippi State to the championship video games in 2017 and 2018.
UConn vs. UCLA
The Bruins have a dominant publish participant in 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts who has been unstoppable within the event. She had consecutive 30-point, 10-rebound video games within the second spherical and the Candy 16. She performed by means of foul hassle within the Elite Eight and completed with 17 factors, seven rebounds and 6 blocks.
UConn should determine a technique to gradual her down. Whereas Betts has been dominant, no participant has been higher than Bueckers, who’s clearly pushed to conclude her unbelievable faculty profession with a nationwide championship.
She’s had a little bit of assist with the stellar play of Azzi Fudd and freshman Sarah Robust, who has put collectively among the best seasons for a first-year participant at school historical past.
Initially Printed: March 31, 2025 at 10:36 PM PDT
