UConn's undefeated season crumbles as South Carolina gets sweet revenge against reigning champs

The UConn women's hoops team's quest to 40-0 ended connected Friday aft 1 of their worst performances successful caller memory.

Winning each of its archetypal 38 games of the season, the Huskies were outscored by 16 points successful the last 20 minutes to autumn to chap No. 1 effect South Carolina, 62-48, successful the Final Four.

The bout was a rematch of past year's nationalist championship, which the Huskies won for a storybook ending to UConn alum Paige Bueckers' career.

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South Carolina defender Agot Makeer and UConn defender Kayleigh Heckel scramble for the shot during the 2nd fractional of the women's NCAA hoops tourney semifinal astatine the Final Four successful Phoenix connected April 3, 2026. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

It's the 4th clip successful the past 5 years that the Gamecocks are backmost successful the nationalist championship, portion the Huskies had won 54 consecutive dating backmost to past year.

Ta’Niya Latson scored 16 points, and Agot Makeer added 14 with South Carolina playing stifling defense. UConn (38-1) entered the Final Four undefeated for the ninth clip successful schoolhouse history, and for the 3rd consecutive clip near without a title. The Huskies besides mislaid successful the 2017 and 2018 nationalist semifinals.

This was the fewest points UConn had scored since putting up 49 points successful a nationalist title crippled nonaccomplishment to the Gamecocks successful 2022.

South Carolina guards Tessa Johnson and Agot Makeer observe aft defeating UConn successful the women's NCAA assemblage hoops tourney semifinal crippled astatine the Final Four successful Phoenix connected April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)

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Leading 46-44 a fewer minutes into the 3rd quarter, South Carolina scored 5 consecutive points, capped by Agot Makeer’s 3-pointer to widen the vantage to seven.

UConn's Sarah Strong deed a 3-pointer to get the Huskies backmost wrong 51-47 with 4:39 left, but the Huskies didn't people again until Strong deed a escaped propulsion with 30.8 seconds left, aft South Carolina had scored 11 consecutive points.

Strong, who was honored arsenic the AP Player of the Year connected Thursday, had 12 points and 12 rebounds, but went 4 for 16 from the field. Azzi Fudd had conscionable 8 points for the Huskies, making lone 3-of-15 shots.

UConn had its worst shooting nighttime of the season, finishing 19 for 61 (31.1%) from the field.

The crippled was headlined by a heated postgame speech betwixt coaches Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley.

Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks argues with Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies during the 2nd fractional of an NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal crippled astatine Mortgage Matchup Center successful Phoenix, Ariz., connected April 3, 2026. (C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

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The Gamecocks volition present look UCLA connected Sunday for the nationalist championship.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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