The 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament continued Friday with Final Four action in Tampa, Florida.
[Read more: 2025 Women’s March Madness Schedule: Dates, locations, channels, how to watch]
First, South Carolina kept its title defense alive as it dominated fellow No. 1 seed Texas. Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley will now compete for her fourth NCAA title, while freshman star forward Joyce Edwards seeks her first.
Later, No. 2 seed UConn made it look easy, overwhelming top-seeded UCLA from the jump. Freshman Sarah Strong showed her sharp-shooting chops, while Paige Bueckers earned her second trip to the National Championship Game.
Here were the highlights!
No. 2 seed UConn continues its dominance with a end-to-end rout of No. 1 seed UCLA
UConn capped a night of blowouts, dominating UCLA from the tip and keeping its foot on the pedal throughout the game. Sarah Strong’s four 3-pointers helped spread the floor for the Huskies and lessen Lauren Betts’ impact as a rim-protector. The freshman ended with a team-high 22 points and eight rebounds.
Azzi Fudd added 19 points and was an efficient 3-of-5 from deep. Paige Bueckers didn’t hit a 3, but she scored 16 points.
Betts led the Bruins with 26 points, but her teammates contributed just 25 more. UCLA also turned it over 18 times to UConn’s seven.
Defending national champion and No. 1 seed South Carolina returns to title game after rout of fellow No. 1 seed Texas
Defending national champion South Carolina left no doubt it would return to the title game, getting 14 points from Te-Hina Paopao and overwhelming Texas on Friday night, 74-57, in the Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
The Gamecocks are a win away from becoming the first team to secure consecutive titles since UConn won four straight from 2013-16.
Edwards added 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for South Carolina (35-3), which used its experience and poise to weather an early deficit and took control with its depth at both ends of the floor.
Three South Carolina players finished in double figures — Bree Hall had 11 points — and the Gamecocks dominated Texas in the post with 40 points in the paint to the Longhorns’ 22.
Madison Booker had 11 points and three fouls for the Longhorns (35-4), who were trying to reach their first championship since 1986. They were in the Final Four for the first time since 2003 after a dominant season, which was their first in the SEC after coming over from the Big 12.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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