South Carolina Loses 79-51 to UCLA in NCAA Women's Final

In Phoenix on Sunday, the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team fell 79-51 to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament national championship game, ending their season with a 36-4 record and marking the second consecutive year they finished as runners-up. The loss denied the Gamecocks a fourth title under coach Dawn Staley, as blue and yellow confetti rained down in Footprint Center instead of the program's traditional garnet and black.

The defeat capped a remarkable 2025-26 campaign defined by resilience amid widespread injuries. Before the season started, forward Ashlyn Watkins opted for a full year off following an ACL tear from the prior year, reducing the active roster to 11 players. Three weeks before tipoff, forward Chloe Kitts suffered a similar ACL injury, leaving just 10 available. The post position, a historical strength featuring stars like A'ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston, was particularly depleted. Only guards Raven Johnson and Joyce Edwards played in all 40 games, with others like Madina Okot, TaNiya Latson, Tessa Johnson, Agot Makeer, Maddy McDaniel and Adhel Tac sidelined at times by injuries, illnesses or suspensions. The team used eight different starting lineups,...