UConn routs South Carolina to capture 12th national title

Field Level Media|published: Sun 6th April, 17:37 2025

Apr 6, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Azzi Fudd (35) dribbles the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half of the national championship of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

UConn women's basketball became the most decorated program in Division I history on Sunday, claiming its 12th national championship in an 82-59 rout of South Carolina in Tampa, Fla.

The Huskies (37-3) capped their first national title run since 2016 with their 16th consecutive win, denying NCAA Tournament No. 1 overall seed South Carolina in its quest for a repeat championship with a dominant performance.

The Gamecocks (35-4) shot just 21-of-61 (34.4 percent) from the floor for the game. No South Carolina scorer reached double-figures until Tessa Johnson's 3-pointer with 3:40 remaining in regulation gave her 10 points. Joyce Edwards scored another 10 points for the Gamecocks.

UConn freshman Sarah Strong posted team highs of 24 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocks, and Azzi Fudd matched her with 24 points, including eight of UConn's first 10 coming out of halftime. Fudd's quick start to the second half helped the Huskies double a 10-point lead at intermission by the end of the third period.

The pivotal third quarter reached a crescendo at the 3:09 mark when Strong penetrated from the top of the key and, upon drawing over a defender, dumped a no-look pass to Fudd in the corner.

Fudd's 3-pointer was just the second made attempt from deep for the Huskies, who started 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. Their third made 3-pointer came just 31 seconds later when KK Arnold found Strong with space at the top of the key.

Paige Bueckers finished with 17 points despite shooting 5-of-14 from the floor. She wrapped the NCAA Tournament with 149 points in UConn's six wins.

Bueckers, Fudd and Strong became the first trio of teammates to score 100-plus points in the same postseason since 2009 when UConn's Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Renee Montgomery accomplished the feat.

Strong's 114 points are the most by a freshman in NCAA Tournament history.

With Sunday's win, UConn stands alone as the only men's or women's basketball program with 12 national titles. The Huskies were tied at 11 with the UCLA men's program.

The loss marked the first for a South Carolina team in the national championship game in four tries.

--Field Level Media

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