UConn Reclaims Glory: Huskies Capture 12th National Title After Nine-Year Wait

In front of a roaring crowd of 19,277 fans, the UConn Huskies finally reclaimed their throne, defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 82–59 to win their 12th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship—ending a nine-year title drought.

It was a powerful return to dominance for the storied program, which last hoisted the trophy in 2016 under the leadership of Breanna Stewart. This time, it was a new trio of stars who led the charge: freshman phenom Sarah Strong, and seasoned guards Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers.

The trio accounted for a staggering 65 of UConn’s 82 points.

• Sarah Strong, the sensational freshman, had a game for the history books: 24 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists—a stat line never before achieved by a freshman in a championship game. She’s now part of elite company, joining Stewart and Napheesa Collier as the only Huskies to tally 100+ points, 60+ rebounds, 20+ assists, and 20+ steals/blocks (“stocks”) in a single tournament.
• Azzi Fudd, named Most Outstanding Player, brought the spark early with 13 first-half points and finished with 24 total, shooting 50% from the field. South Carolina’s focus on defending Bueckers left Fudd room to light it up.
• Paige Bueckers, under the defensive spotlight, quietly delivered a balanced line: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. Her leadership and poise were crucial throughout.

This championship meant even more for Bueckers and Fudd, both of whom battled back from devastating ACL injuries that forced them to miss entire seasons. Sunday night, they stood together at center court, trophy in hand—finally on top.

“To sit up here with the whole team and share this moment is extremely validating,” Bueckers said, beaming. “Nothing that life or basketball throws at us can break us anymore.”

1st Quarter:
South Carolina came out hot with a deep three from senior Te-Hina Paopao, but UConn kept pace. A late jumper from Bueckers, assisted by Strong, gave the Huskies a 19–14 lead at the end of the quarter. Turnovers and missed layups plagued the Gamecocks early.

2nd Quarter:
UConn’s defense turned up the heat. The Huskies forced multiple turnovers and disrupted South Carolina’s rhythm, particularly targeting standout freshman Joyce Edwards, who picked up early fouls and sat out the remainder of the half. UConn led 36–26 at halftime, with Fudd scoring 13 and Strong dominating the glass.

3rd Quarter:
UConn hit their stride, outscoring the Gamecocks 26–16 and ending the period on a 9–3 run. With a commanding 62–42 lead heading into the fourth, the Huskies had broken the game wide open.

4th Quarter:
The lead never dipped below 20 as UConn closed out the game in dominant fashion. They shot 48% from the field, recorded 18 assists (compared to South Carolina’s 8), won the rebound battle 40–36, and sank 86% of their free throws.

• UConn: Strong (24 pts, 15 reb), Fudd (24 pts), Bueckers (17 pts)
• South Carolina: Tessa Johnson & Joyce Edwards (10 pts each), Chloe Kitts (9 pts), Sania Feagin (8 pts)

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was candid in the postgame press conference:

“At the end of the day, we didn’t take care of the basketball. We took a couple of bad shots. We didn’t make layups—and they make you pay.”

For head coach Geno Auriemma, this title may be one of the most emotional of his career.

“The basketball gods have been cruel to this group. They’ve suffered so much—injuries, setbacks. But I knew they weren’t going to bring us this far just to break our hearts again,” Auriemma reflected. “I’m glad they were rewarded. This one’s special.”

After years of injury, heartbreak, and rebuilding, the Huskies are back on top—and it feels like the beginning of something even bigger.