Tampa, Fla. — The moment South Carolina has worked toward all season has finally arrived. The Gamecocks are headed to the national championship game, one win away from making history.
On Friday night, South Carolina overcame another slow start but overwhelmed Texas with a commanding third-quarter performance, pulling away for a 74-57 victory in the Final Four. The win secured the Gamecocks’ third appearance in the national title game in the past four years.
Now, they’ll aim to do what’s never been done in program history — win back-to-back national championships. Standing in their way? UConn — the last team to repeat as champions — after the Huskies dominated UCLA 85-51 in Friday’s other semifinal.
Despite the big win, South Carolina’s celebration was subdued. The team knows the job isn’t finished.
“This isn’t the moment we’re playing for,” said guard MiLaysia Fulwiley. “We want to be cutting down the nets on Sunday. We’re not satisfied yet.”
South Carolina continued its recent dominance over Texas, winning their third meeting of the season with ease. Once again, the Gamecocks broke down Texas’ highly regarded defense with fast-break points, paint production, and clutch 3-point shooting.
The victory also improved head coach Dawn Staley’s postseason record against Texas coach Vic Schaefer to a perfect 8-0.
Freshman Joyce Edwards, who had struggled in the previous rounds of the NCAA Tournament, picked the perfect moment to shine. She delivered a standout performance with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists — becoming the first player in the past 25 years to record at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists off the bench in a Final Four game.
“I thought she played within herself tonight,” Staley said. “She wasn’t rushed. She used her athleticism and strength, and we loved seeing her confidence.”
After scoring just 15 points combined in her last three games, Edwards credited her turnaround to staying focused and trusting her game.
“It feels good knowing I could bounce back and help my team win,” Edwards said. “I just took what the game gave me.”
Senior Te-Hina Paopao also had a huge night, scoring 14 points and hitting three of four shots from beyond the arc, giving Texas’ defense all kinds of problems.
The game’s momentum fully swung South Carolina’s way in the third quarter, when they outscored Texas 20-9 — including an 11-0 run that effectively sealed the outcome.
Texas’ troubles began even earlier when star forward Madison Booker, the SEC Player of the Year, was hit with foul trouble. Booker picked up her second foul late in the first quarter, allowing South Carolina to erase Texas’ early lead.
Although Booker returned in the second quarter, she picked up her third foul just before halftime, limiting her effectiveness for the remainder of the game. Booker finished with only nine minutes played in the first half — a huge blow for Texas.
“I should’ve been smarter,” Booker admitted. “That’s just a mental lapse on my part.”
South Carolina took a three-point lead into halftime and never looked back, outscoring Texas 36-22 in the second half.
For Schaefer, who led Texas to its first Final Four since 2003, the loss marked another painful exit — his third Final Four appearance without a championship.
Meanwhile, Staley and her Gamecocks are one step away from etching their names into the history books.
“I’m just glad we came together when it mattered most,” said South Carolina’s Bree Hall. “People doubted us earlier in the tournament, but this team knows how to flip the switch. And we did that tonight.”
