South Carolina ends UConn's perfect season in Final Four
South Carolina defeated UConn 62-48 in a women's NCAA Final Four semifinal on April 3, 2026, in Phoenix, snapping the Huskies' 38-0 start to the season. The Gamecocks, also a No. 1 seed, outscored UConn by 16 points in the final 20 minutes in a rematch of last year's national championship, which UConn had won. UConn shot 19 for 61 from the field in its worst offensive performance of the season.
UConn advanced to the Final Four with a 73-72 victory over Duke on a last-second 3-pointer. The Huskies entered the semifinals undefeated for the ninth time in program history and carried a 54-game winning streak dating to last season. South Carolina reached the national championship game for the fourth time in five years.
Ta'Niya Latson led South Carolina with 16 points while Agot Makeer added 14. UConn's Sarah Strong, named AP Player of the Year the day before, recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds but shot 4 for 16. Azzi Fudd scored eight points on 3-for-15 shooting. The loss marked the fewest points for UConn since a 49-point effort in its 2022 national championship defeat to South Carolina. The game featured a heated postgame exchange between coaches Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma.
South Carolina advances to face UCLA in the national championship on Sunday.
