Tampa, Fla. — After nearly a decade of waiting, UConn women’s basketball has reclaimed its place at the summit of the sport. The No. 2 seed Huskies captured their 12th national championship on Sunday night, capping an incredible NCAA Tournament run with a commanding 82-59 victory over No. 1 seed South Carolina.
For a program steeped in history and success, this title carried extra weight. It wasn’t just about adding another trophy — it was about redemption after years of heartbreak.
UConn’s path to the championship was a gauntlet: the Huskies knocked off three No. 1 seeds — USC, UCLA, and finally South Carolina — to earn their latest crown. The victory marked the program’s first title since their four-year reign from 2013 to 2016 behind Breanna Stewart.
Sunday’s triumph also gave senior guard Paige Bueckers — projected as the No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft — the storybook ending she had dreamed of. With just over a minute left, Bueckers embraced legendary coach Geno Auriemma on the sideline, emotional as her championship quest reached its conclusion.
“This journey has been all about resilience, gratitude, and overcoming adversity,” Bueckers said afterward.
With Bueckers and fellow star guard Azzi Fudd finally healthy together, and freshman sensation Sarah Strong emerging as a force, UConn looked every bit the dynasty reborn. Fudd and Strong led the scoring with 24 points apiece, while Bueckers added 17. Fudd was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four for her standout performance.
South Carolina, seeking to repeat as champions, struggled offensively. Joyce Edwards and Tessa Johnson scored 10 points each — the fewest by a leading scorer in a women’s NCAA championship game.
This victory further cemented UConn’s dominance in tournament history. The Huskies now have 12 wins in the Final Four by margins of 20 or more points — more than the rest of Division I combined. Their 23-point margin Sunday tied for the third-largest ever in a title game.
“They executed at an elite level on both ends of the court,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said.
Bueckers, when asked about her legacy at UConn before the game, said she hoped to be remembered as “a great teammate and a great leader.” Now, she’ll also forever be remembered as a champion.
UConn’s road back to glory wasn’t easy. Since their 111-game winning streak was snapped in 2017, the Huskies had endured painful Final Four losses, injury setbacks — including Bueckers missing the entire 2022-23 season — and a championship game defeat to South Carolina in 2022.
Last year, with Fudd sidelined, UConn fell just short in the Final Four against Iowa. But this season, after a February loss to Tennessee, the Huskies didn’t lose again, finishing 37-3. They swept the Big East titles and dominated the NCAA tournament.
In Sunday’s final, UConn jumped out to a 19-14 first-quarter lead, setting the tone with efficient shooting and suffocating defense. Strong’s emphatic block early in the second quarter ignited the Huskies, and her all-around brilliance throughout the tournament rewrote the record books.
Strong set a new freshman scoring record for a single NCAA tournament with 114 points, surpassing Tamika Catchings’ mark from 1998. She also became the first player ever — regardless of class — to post at least 100 points, 25 assists, and 10 blocks in a single NCAA tournament since blocks became official in 1988.
“I did better than I expected,” the humble freshman said, after also grabbing 15 rebounds and dishing out five assists.
Staley went so far as to say Strong could become UConn’s greatest player ever — a bold statement considering the program’s history with stars like Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, and Sue Bird.
UConn led 36-26 at halftime and never looked back. By the final buzzer, the Huskies’ starters exited to a standing ovation, their dominance unquestioned. UConn is now 91-2 in NCAA tournament games when leading by double digits at halftime.
For Auriemma, 71, this championship was another milestone in an iconic career. He became the first coach in Division I men’s or women’s basketball to win a title at age 70 or older.
Reflecting on the victory, Auriemma said, “Maybe this title is for everyone who thought we were done, who doubted if it would happen again. For the last 30 years, I don’t know if any program has meant more to their sport than UConn has to women’s basketball.”
On Sunday night, UConn proved — once again — that greatness never fades. It simply waits for its moment to return.
