PHOENIX — South Carolina and UCLA are poised to contend for a national championship.
This Sunday, the pair of top-ranked seeds will collide in the NCAA championship contest (at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC), featuring a showdown between formidable teams boasting extensive experience, having been under scrutiny throughout their seasons. South Carolina aims for its fourth NCAA crown, while UCLA endeavors to secure its inaugural one.
The Gamecocks progressed following their termination of UConn’s 54-game winning run on Friday. This victory was characterized by South Carolina’s exceptional defensive strategy, yet it was largely eclipsed by an incident occurring away from the court. Towards the match’s conclusion, the two renowned coaches, Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley, engaged in a fervent disagreement on the sidelines.
In a closer, yet significantly calmer, game, UCLA triumphed over Texas with a score of 51-44. Senior Lauren Betts shone brightly on both ends of the floor, contributing 15 points and 10 rebounds with a 70% field goal success rate — including a spectacular block in the final 20 seconds that maintained the Bruins’ three-point advantage.
Which athletes might excel this Sunday? What pivotal matchups will determine whether the Bruins or Gamecocks ultimately claim the victory? Our specialists, Andrea Adelson, Kareem Copeland, Charlie Creme, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel, address these inquiries and more in a thorough analysis of the national championship game. Be sure to return when the game commences for live commentary from the courtside.
Who is considered the most crucial player in this game?
Copeland: Raven Johnson. South Carolina’s defense must sustain its elite performance to overcome the Bruins’ prolific offense, and it is Johnson who empowers coach Dawn Staley to implement diverse defensive schemes. Friday night served as a prime illustration — Johnson guarded the 6-foot-2 AP National Player of the Year, Sarah Strong, for portions of the game, and the 5-foot-8 point guard held her own, disrupting the UConn offense. Staley intends to prevent UCLA from initiating plays inside-out through Betts, and the coach will deploy well-timed double teams from various angles to keep the anticipated lottery pick uncertain. Johnson is fundamental to this strategy, and her capability to defend larger opponents allows South Carolina to employ a smaller lineup intermittently without compromising interior strength. “That signifies everything to us,” Staley remarked on Saturday.
Voepel: Betts. The senior center has maintained averages of 22.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.0 blocks, shooting 70.1% throughout the NCAA tournament. Earlier in the season, there were instances where she did not receive the necessary interior passes, but the Bruins swiftly resolved that concern. For the majority of this season, Betts has consistently delivered whenever UCLA required her, including in the national semifinal victory against Texas. Betts will need to perform at an All-American caliber both offensively and defensively, particularly against the potent sophomore forward Joyce Edwards of South Carolina.
Creme: Agot Makeer. The freshman guard has emerged as the decisive factor for South Carolina in this NCAA tournament. She averaged 7.2 points per game during the regular season but has escalated to 14.6 PPG in the tournament, including 14 points on Friday in her most significant career game — marking her fifth double-digit output in the tournament, following only three such performances throughout the regular season. Makeer has evolved into a third scoring option, easing the burden on Joyce Edwards and Ta’Niya Latson. Her defensive contributions will also be vital against the Bruins. Staley was able to diversify her defense against UConn, positioning Johnson on Strong in certain moments because the coach felt confident in Makeer’s ability to guard Azzi Fudd. Strong and Fudd collectively shot 7-of-31. Makeer can effectively double-team Betts given her stature, and with her agility, she can swiftly reposition herself to cover UCLA’s shooters.
How will South Carolina manage the emotional peak achieved by defeating UConn?
Copeland: Undeniably, another opportunity against the team that prevented them from reaching the 2025 title game served as a powerful incentive, yet no sense of ultimate gratification radiated from the Gamecocks’ changing room. Johnson is the undisputed leader, driven by a quest to conclude her career with a championship, but her ambition extends beyond personal gain. She and Latson clinched three high school championships together before their reunion this season. Johnson desires for Latson to experience that feeling as much as she does for herself, which was the primary impetus for her transfer from Florida State.
This South Carolina team simply does not convey the impression that vanquishing UConn was their ultimate objective, with a potential letdown looming.
Voepel: Historically, it has proven challenging for teams that triumph over UConn in the semifinals to then prevail in the final. This is partly due to the euphoria of defeating the Huskies, which can feel akin to clinching the national championship itself. UConn suffered defeat in the national semifinals 11 times prior to Friday, and only three teams that bested them in that particular game went on to win the NCAA title: Notre Dame in 2018 and 2001, and Tennessee in 1996.
The Gamecocks appeared to manage their emotions effectively after overcoming UConn because that victory did not come as a surprise to them. They did not perceive themselves as underdogs despite the Huskies being undefeated. This mindset can aid them in maintaining the same level of intensity when confronting UCLA.
Adelson: South Carolina clearly possessed ample motivation to surpass UConn given the events of last year’s title game, but this is an experienced team that understands how to remain concentrated on the task at hand. Securing a national title is the imperative. Staley reminded her players after their loss in the SEC tournament championship game that the last time they were defeated in that particular game, in 2022, they proceeded to win the national title. Players have frequently discussed that game serving as a reset. Defeating UConn does not automatically grant them the national championship, and they are all cognizant of that fact. “If we approach the game with the same mentality and ferocity we demonstrated yesterday, I believe we’ll be in a strong position,” Johnson stated.
Creme: Intuition suggests this Gamecocks squad possesses sufficient experience and concentration to swiftly recover and be prepared to compete at peak performance on Sunday afternoon. Nevertheless, I cannot help but recall 2017 when Mississippi State expended so much vitality, both physically and emotionally, to defeat an undefeated UConn in the national semifinals — and then had little left two days later against South Carolina, losing 67-55. On Saturday, Staley mentioned Johnson was fatigued after guarding Fudd and Strong for 26 minutes. Recuperation might not be straightforward. The Auriemma-Staley sideline incident will have minimal or no bearing on how the South Carolina players approach their game against UCLA, but replicating the intensity required to defeat the Huskies might prove arduous.
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Examining the national championship confrontation, South Carolina versus UCLA
SEC Network’s Nell Fortner, Mike Neighbors and Alyssa Lang discuss key points to observe as the Gamecocks
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Ta’Niya Latson explains how South Carolina’s defense smothers UConn
After spearheading the Gamecocks’ triumph against the Huskies, Latson underscores the significance of collective defense in securing their place in the championship match.
Which squad will triumph?
Adelson: South Carolina 65, UCLA 63
The significance of prior involvement in contests of this nature cannot be overemphasized, and this is an advantage South Carolina possesses over UCLA. That, coupled with their defensive prowess throughout most of the season – and the adaptability with which they can perform on that end – will determine the outcome.
Copeland: South Carolina 67, UCLA 60
Seasoned proficiency. Defensive capability. Roster depth. All these aspects lean in favor of the Gamecocks. South Carolina holds the institutional understanding of the circumstance, even if two key players are transfers in their initial season with the squad. Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot have also assimilated rapidly. South Carolina boasts the reach to disrupt the 6-7 Lauren Betts and the agility on the perimeter to prevent the Bruins’ premier sharpshooters from getting uncontested looks.
Creme: South Carolina 62, UCLA 59
The Gamecocks possess slightly more experience, a bit more roster depth, and a touch more versatility. This combination will yield a small winning margin. The Gamecocks are poised to secure a fourth championship in a closely contested match.
Philippou: South Carolina 63, UCLA 57
The Gamecocks’ defensive masterclass against the Huskies will carry over into the title game against the Bruins, who will be held below 60 points for the second time this weekend. Unlike Texas, South Carolina has too many weapons on the offensive end — and experience on the sport’s biggest stage — that it won’t be able to be fully shutdown.
Voepel: South Carolina 70, UCLA 65
The Gamecocks displayed such intense defensive focus against UConn, suggesting they are likely to replicate that success in the championship encounter.