PHOENIX -- During summer workouts, South Carolina displayed the score of its 2025 national title game loss to UConn on screens in its gym: UConn 82, South Carolina 59. That reminder motivated the Gamecocks through the offseason to put in the work to get back to the Final Four stage and ensure a different result.
In Friday evening's national semifinal, the Gamecocks avenged that blowout in convincing fashion, knocking off the previously undefeated Huskies 62-48 to advance to their third straight national title game. South Carolina will face fellow No. 1 seed UCLA on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN).
The Gamecocks, who also won championships in 2017, 2022 and 2024, are one victory away from their fourth national title. That accomplishment would make coach Dawn Staley one of four coaches to win that many titles, along with UConn's Geno Auriemma (12), Tennessee's Pat Summitt (8) and Baylor/LSU's Kim Mulkey (4).
"It was a performance that makes you super proud," Staley said. "When [the players] are able to execute, you can see it as a coach. ... Just super proud of 'em."
With the loss, UConn's streak of 54 consecutive wins -- tied for the fourth-longest streak in NCAA Division I history -- was snapped, its bid for a repeat championship denied.
Friday marked the third time Auriemma has taken an undefeated squad to the Final Four and fallen short of a national title; the Huskies are the fifth team overall to lose in the national semifinal after entering the Final Four unbeaten.
"We just weren't good enough tonight," Auriemma said. "It has nothing to do with going through adversity or no adversity [earlier in the season]. ... I just think you have to play good that night."
Auriemma got into a heated exchange with Staley right before the final buzzer, prompting their respective assistants and the officials to get in between them. Auriemma walked off the floor without shaking hands with Staley or South Carolina as his assistants attempted to smooth things over with Staley.
For the Gamecocks, it was a performance to behold, particularly on defense. They frustrated the Huskies' offense all night, holding them to 31% shooting and under 50 points for the third time in 171 NCAA tournament contests; South Carolina also limited UConn to 49 points in the 2022 championship game.
Staley said the experience from last year's loss, when UConn got practically whatever it wanted offensively, informed her team's defensive effort Friday night.
"When you have losses that hurt, you really understand the why," Staley said. "UConn was a really well-oiled machine. If you didn't have disruption, and consistent disruption, you allow them to play as freely as they want to play and shoot as freely as they shoot, they're very efficient and very, very good.
"Our whole objective was to get them to shoot as inefficiently as possible, make them put the ball on the floor. Don't give them as many catch-and-shoot opportunities. I thought our kids really locked into that."
South Carolina contained UConn stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd to a combined 20 points on 7-for-31 shooting, their worst combined field goal percentage this season.
"I think our defense is pretty elite," Gamecocks freshman Agot Makeer said. "We were super prepared by all of our coaches. I think we all wanted this really bad. We were just ready."
Added senior Ta'Niya Latson: "Defensively, it was a master class."
Staley gave her players a fiery halftime message, though, to ensure they met the moment. The Gamecocks led much of the first half before allowing the Huskies to end the second quarter with some momentum and take a 26-24 lead into the break.
"You've got to get under their skin a little bit," Staley said. "You've got to jolt them out of the state that they're in to get them back to who they are. What you saw in the second half is who they are on both sides of the basketball, just making plays to get it done to help us get a win."
Added Latson: "We couldn't be scared to play on this stage, especially against UConn."
A 16-4 run for the Gamecocks coming out of the locker room gave them the lead for good. UConn remained within striking distance, pulling within one late in the third quarter and two early in the fourth, but the Gamecocks' defense reengaged down the stretch, holding the Huskies to four points in the final 6:37.
Makeer had a huge night with 14 points off the bench. She has scored in double figures each game this tournament after having only three such games during the season.
Latson (16), Joyce Edwards (11) and Johnson (10) joined Makeer in double figures, with Latson recording her first double-double of the season by adding 11 rebounds.
South Carolina benefited from a 47-32 edge on the glass and a 16-9 advantage in fast-break scoring.
