In a thrilling display of basketball, Paige Bueckers and her UConn teammates secured a trip to the Final Four without cutting down the net, even though a ladder was ready for the celebration. The reason for this restraint was clear: the Huskies are determined to continue their journey. Bueckers led UConn to their record 24th national semi-final in the women’s NCAA Tournament, scoring an impressive 31 points during their 78-64 victory over Southern California.
The Southern California Trojans, who faced UConn in this pivotal game, were unable to overcome the absence of star player JuJu Watkins, who was sidelined due to an ACL injury. Despite this setback, USC fought valiantly, with Rayah Marshall contributing 23 points and 15 rebounds. The Trojans had previously defeated Kansas State in the Sweet 16 but found the challenge against UConn too formidable.
The Huskies are set to travel to Tampa, Florida, where they will face the overall No. 1 seed, UCLA, in the semi-finals on Friday. The other semi-final matchup features a highly anticipated SEC showdown between defending champions South Carolina and Texas. UConn has a storied history in the NCAA, having won a record 11 national titles, all under the leadership of coach Geno Auriemma.
Bueckers expressed pride in her team’s resilience and connection, stating, “We’ve got a whole lot of heart, and a whole lot of toughness about us. And we play together as a team.” This season, she has demonstrated exceptional performance, averaging 35 points over her last three March Madness games. Her standout moment came during the Sweet 16, where she scored a career-high 40 points against Oklahoma.
As a senior, Bueckers has already earned AP All-America honors and was named the Big East Player of the Year for the third consecutive time. However, her ultimate goal remains elusive: securing a national title after last year’s Final Four defeat to Caitlin Clark and Iowa. Bueckers is not only a crucial player for UConn but is also projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in next month’s WNBA draft.
In another exciting match, Texas secured their place in the Final Four for the first time since 2003, defeating second-seeded TCU 58-47. The Longhorns showcased their strong defense, effectively neutralizing TCU’s well-traveled point guard, Hailey Van Lith. Coach Vic Schaefer celebrated this historic win, marking the first regional final victory during his tenure with Texas, after previously guiding Mississippi State to two Final Four appearances.
With the stage set for an exhilarating Final Four, basketball fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming matchups, especially as UConn aims for another championship title in their illustrious history.
