TAMPA, Fla. — The South Carolina Gamecocks demonstrated their championship pedigree once again, overcoming a sluggish start to defeat the Texas Longhorns 74-57 in the women’s Final Four at Amalie Arena. This victory marks South Carolina's opportunity to compete for their third national title in four seasons, and their fourth under the guidance of head coach Dawn Staley.
“We knew how to bounce back,” said forward Joyce Edwards. “We’re a resilient team.” Resilience was essential as the Gamecocks faced a tough matchup against Texas, who entered the game with a record of 35-4. The Longhorns' star player, Madison Booker, quickly established her presence by scoring her first three shots and contributing an early steal, helping Texas build a 12-7 lead.
South Carolina found itself trailing by as many as eight points early in the game, struggling with ball control that resulted in three turnovers within the first four minutes, and a total of ten in the first half. Coach Staley described these turnovers as “momentum killers,” reflecting the challenges her team faced in the opening stages.
Texas's momentum shifted significantly when Booker encountered foul trouble. She picked up two fouls just 22 seconds apart in the first quarter, forcing coach Vic Schaefer to keep her on the court despite the risk. Unfortunately for Texas, Booker received another foul early in the second quarter while battling for a 50-50 ball with Tessa Johnson of South Carolina. In the nine minutes that Booker played in the first half, Texas managed to outscore South Carolina by eight points, but during the eleven minutes she sat on the bench, the Gamecocks outscored the Longhorns by eleven.
As the game progressed, South Carolina showcased their defensive prowess, effectively shutting down the Longhorns in the third quarter. Texas struggled, missing ten of their fourteen shots in that period, including two back-to-back airballs. The Gamecocks capitalized on this defensive dominance, establishing a commanding 17-point lead and holding Texas scoreless for almost four and a half minutes.
Though Edwards (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Te-Hina Paopao (14 points) shone as the standout players for South Carolina, the team’s success can be attributed to their balanced scoring. Seven players contributed between six and fourteen points, and the Gamecocks amassed an impressive 35 points off the bench. Coach Staley expressed her pride, stating, “Just proud of our team. Proud of our depth. Proud players that chose to come here, and they really get the experience being at a Final Four and now the national championship.”
With this victory, the South Carolina Gamecocks are set to compete for their second consecutive national title, further solidifying their status as a powerhouse in women’s college basketball. Their journey through the tournament has been marked by resilience and strategic play, and fans are eager to see how they will perform in the upcoming championship game.
