The No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks season came to a close on Sunday afternoon. Despite entering the national championship game against No. 1 UCLA as slight favorites, the Bruins absolutely dominated the Gamecocks throughout, winning 79-51.
Despite how lights out the Gamecocks had been playing on offense, the Bruins lockdown defense was masterful. On the day, UCLA held South Carolina to shoot just 29% from the floor, went 8-for-19 from three and was out-rebounded 49-37. It was a true shellacking in the purest form.
Coming into this game, South Carolina was averaging 87.6 points per game. But UCLA held the Gamecocks to just 23 points in the first half, and led 36-23 at halftime. UCLA’s 25-9 run in the third quarter killed any hopes for a South Carolina comeback. The only solace Gamecock fans may be able to take is the fact that UCLA has never won a national championship before. While losing a national championship no matter the way it plays out is never fun, South Carolina at least has three championships under its belt already.
After the game, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley’s message was simple—her team was on the wrong side of women’s basketball history on Sunday.
"We just didn’t have it today," Staley told reporters. "We tried, but we just didn’t have it today. They were the better team today. Congratulations to them.”
“Sometimes you’re part of women’s basketball history. It’s not favorable to you. You could see if you’re going to lose to a team, like UCLA, you want to lose to a team that just really out-works you, out-executed you, made it very difficult for you to perform at a high level. It was a direct reflection of what they did to us.”
Staley added that while obviously the result is disappointing, South Carolina playing for more titles is a big part of moving the program in the right direction.
'The trick is to continue to get here," Staley said. "The more you get here, the more you increase your chances of winning. So we got a lot of work cut out for us. I really enjoyed the weekend. I enjoy every challenge that basketball creates. I enjoy facing them. I enjoy dealing, playing the hand that I’m dealt. This weekend includes that.”
There’s no question Staley will wish this one went differently, especially with the drama surrounding her and UConn’s Geno Auriemma on Friday night. But as long as Staley is at the helm, South Carolina women’s basketball isn’t going anywhere soon.
Next up for the Gamecocks will be replacing seniors like Raven Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot. Barring any unexpected transfer portal entries, the Gamecocks will be expected to return the likes of Joyce Edwards, Tessa Johnson and Agot Makeer.
South Carolina could make the pain of this national championship loss sting a bit less by landing the likes of big-time center Audi Crooks from the portal—she reportedly is already on Dawn Staley’s radar.
Losing is never fun, especially with how strong this South Carolina finished in the tournament. But Coach Staley has been in this position before, so don’t call any curtains for this program in Columbia any time soon.
Sometimes you just get hit in the mouth and find yourself on the wrong side of history.
The Gamecocks can take solace in responding from an SEC Tournament loss to Texas in a positive way this tournament. But going out like this on women's college basketball's biggest stage is a sour way to end this run.
Congrats to UCLA, who earned every bit of Sunday's victory and then some.