UConn Huskies Triumph: Winning Their 12th National Championship

TAMPA, Fla. – After a nine-year wait, UConn emerged victorious with their 12th national championship. Facing off against three top-seeded teams – USC, UCLA, and South Carolina in a resounding 82-59 final victory – the No. 2 seed Huskies reclaimed glory in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. This achievement is all the more meaningful given the challenges they’ve overcome on their journey.

UConn once dominated college basketball, winning four consecutive titles from 2013 to 2016, propelled by Breanna Stewart’s exceptional talent. However, the years that followed saw the Huskies encountering significant setbacks, from tough losses to injuries.

On Sunday, the Huskies restored their legacy, as senior guard Paige Bueckers bowed out with her first national championship, a fitting end for someone predicted to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA draft on April 14. As Bueckers exited the game with just over a minute left, sharing an emotional embrace with coach Geno Auriemma, it was clear the mission was finally accomplished.

“Our story has been one of perseverance, gratitude, overcoming obstacles, and facing life’s challenges head-on,” Bueckers reflected.

This triumphant return was powered by Bueckers and her teammate Azzi Fudd, who spent most of last season sidelined with a knee injury, alongside Sarah Strong, heralded as the nation’s top freshman. UConn recaptured the essence of their former championship-winning squads, showcasing not just excellence but superior gameplay.

With major contributions from Fudd and Strong each scoring 24 points, and Bueckers adding 17, the Huskies shone brightly. Fudd earned the title of Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. In contrast, South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards and Tessa Johnson led with 10 points each as the Gamecocks failed to defend their championship, finishing the season at 35-4. Notably, the 10 points were the lowest leading scorer tally recorded in a women’s NCAA final.

UConn’s impressive history includes now 12 Final Four victories by 20 points or more, overtaking the combined 11 of all other Division I women’s teams. Their 23-point win margin is tied for the third-largest in championship history, only surpassed by previous UConn victories.

South Carolina’s coach Dawn Staley praised UConn’s flawless execution on both ends of the court.

Bueckers was asked about her legacy at UConn before the game.

“I hope I’m remembered as a phenomenal teammate and leader. Creating a legacy and forging bonds with teammates has always been paramount,” she explained.

Now, she will also be immortalized as a national champion. Her path wasn’t without doubts, stemming from UConn’s past disappointments: their legendary 111-game winning streak ended in the 2017 Final Four with an overtime loss to Mississippi State.

Subsequent semifinal exits in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024 haunted the Huskies, alongside a finals loss to South Carolina in 2022 and missing the 2023 Final Four – a rarity since 2007. Bueckers herself missed the 2022-23 season due to a knee injury.

With Fudd absent last season, the Huskies narrowly lost to Iowa 71-69 in the semifinals, a defeat that intensified the pressure on Bueckers and the team to fulfill their ambitions this year.

Despite not being flawless this season, similar to six of UConn’s former championship teams, the Huskies rebounded from an 80-76 defeat at Tennessee on February 6, remaining unbeaten thereafter. They clinched the Big East regular and postseason titles, dominating their way through the NCAA tournament – defeating No. 1 seeds USC, UCLA, and South Carolina – and concluded the season at 37-3.

The Huskies took charge early in Sunday’s game, establishing a 19-14 lead after a brisk first quarter marked by intense defense and 52.9% shooting accuracy. In contrast, South Carolina managed 40% from the field, unable to capitalize despite positioning the ball effectively.

UConn forward Sarah Strong further stamped her presence with a commanding block against Raven Johnson early in the second quarter, encapsulating her stellar postseason showing.

Strong set a new tournament record for freshmen, scoring 114 points, eclipsing Tamika Catchings’ 1998 feat. That same year, Strong’s mother, Allison Feaster, propelled Harvard to a historic upset over Stanford as a No. 16 seed. Feaster, who enjoyed a decade-long WNBA career, now sees her daughter poised to follow in her footsteps.

Strong is the first player to achieve over 100 points, 25 assists, and 10 blocks in a single NCAA tournament since blocks became an official stat in 1988.

“I exceeded my own expectations,” Strong, who also collected 15 rebounds and five assists on Sunday, modestly remarked.

Despite averaging 8.7 three-pointers per game before Sunday, UConn made just one in the first half – an Ashlynn Shade corner three in the final seconds before halftime, boosting the Huskies to a 36-26 lead.

The Huskies maintained their dominance throughout the second half, allowing the starters to leave to thunderous applause. UConn boasts a 91-2 record when leading by double digits at the half in tournament play, with the only losses in the 2001 semifinals against Notre Dame and the 1989 first round against La Salle.

Geno Auriemma, participating in his debut NCAA tournament in 1989 now in his fourth decade at UConn, offers a remarkable legacy with the team. The Huskies boast 36 NCAA tournament appearances and 24 Final Fours, with Auriemma, who turned 71 in March, being the first to clinch a championship past 70 in Division I basketball history.