The NCAAW Ultimate 4 is about! On Friday, No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks will tackle the No. 1 Texas Longhorns. Moreover, the No. 2 UConn Huskies will face off towards the No. 1 UCLA Bruins.
Gamecocks Journey To A Fifth Straight Ultimate 4
Within the third quarter of the Elite Eight matchup between Duke Blue Devils and South Carolina, the Blue Devils outscored the Gamecocks 20 to 12. Though South Carolina trailed, it got here again to win the sport by 4 factors.
Through the matchup, South Carolina was overpowered on the offensive boards, 19-6, however finally received the defensive rebounding battle. Moreover, the Gamecocks had 13 steals, which showcased their defensive prowess.
“The message was we bought to function,” South Carolina head coach Daybreak Staley stated Sunday. “One, the offensive rebounds have been killing us. Two, now we have to function in a damaged place as a result of they blew up a few of our units. Once they blow them up, now we have to remain calm and now we have to get a shot on the basket to really give us a chance to make a basket or offensive rebound.”
Within the fourth quarter, junior ahead Chloe Kitts made two essential free throws with 5 seconds remaining to seal the win for South Carolina. The 2025 SEC Ladies’s Event MVP led the Gamecocks in scoring with 14 factors and 4 rebounds. Moreover, WNBA draft prospect Sania Feagin recorded 12 factors, eight rebounds, and three assists.
It Comes Down To The Expertise Of South Carolina’s Junior And Senior Lessons
Head coach Daybreak Staley confirmed nothing however reward, noting she is “tremendous pleased with Chloe (Kitts)” for main the Gamecocks to an in depth win within the comeback.
The senior class, which incorporates Bree Corridor, Sania Feagin, and Raven Johnson, may finish their collegiate careers with a 3rd Nationwide Championship. Since 1982, USC, Tennessee, and UConn are the one groups to win back-to-back NCAA girls’s titles. Presently, the Gamecocks are searching for their third NCAA championship in three years.
“(Sania Feagin) has been part of our program for 4 years now,” Staley stated of Feagin. “Her development, her maturation course of has simply been on an upward trajectory. I’ve all the time stated she was probably the most gifted massive, like no matter massive that was on our roster, she was probably the most gifted so far as with the ability to make strikes and perceive the sport and and talk the sport to see her simply on the market performing like a senior. So very pleased we bought to lean on her for hopefully two extra video games and that whole class will go away right here as probably the most embellished if they will get one other championship.”
To safe their second consecutive look in Sunday’s nationwide championship sport, the Gamecocks will want elevated contributions from youthful gamers like sophomores MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson. The expertise South Carolina’s upperclassmen has gained over the previous 4 years has been evident on each ends of the court docket.
Texas Defeats the TCU Horned Frogs To Advance To Fhe Ultimate 4 for The First Time In 22 years
On Monday, the Texas Longhorns took down the TCU Horned Frogs, ending Hailey Van Lith’s collegiate profession and advancing to the Ultimate 4 for the primary time since 2003 and fourth time in program historical past.
The Longhorns, guided by sophomore ahead and SEC Participant of the 12 months Madison Booker, together with senior guard Rori Harmon, centered on their protection and successfully contained Van Lith. They restricted her to simply 3-for-15 taking pictures from the sphere and compelled her to commit seven turnovers.
Texas additionally outscored TCU in factors within the paint, 24-8, and held the Longhorns to solely 9 factors within the first quarter. Talking of Harmon, the star guard overcame a torn ACL sustained throughout the 2022–23 season to steer the Longhorns to their first Ultimate 4 look since 2003.
Recognized for her playmaking and protection as a two-way guard, Harmon leads a Texas protection that is among the many most elite within the nation. No. 16 in scoring protection, the Longhorns held opponents to a whopping 55.7 factors within the common season. The truth is, by means of 4 NCAAW match video games, the Longhorns have held all 4 opponents to common of 53.8 factors per sport.
Vic Schaefer Has Made All The Distinction For Texas
Since coach Vic Schaefer took over the Longhorns’ girls’s basketball program, Texas has participated within the Elite Eight in 4 of the previous 5 seasons. The group additionally posted a 144-35 (67-21 SEC Convention) report all through his tenure. Schaefer is a particular kind of coach, one which’s indebted to his gamers.
It’ll even be Schaefer’s fifth time teaching within the Ladies’s Ultimate 4 as head coach or an assistant coach. He led Mississippi State to a few journeys to the Ultimate 4 earlier than taking the Texas job.
What’s Subsequent for South Carolina and Texas?
The Gamecocks and Longhorns additionally confronted one another within the SEC girls’s championship sport, through which South Carolina received again in March.
4 Gamecocks scored in double figures and Kitts had 15 factors and 9 rebounds within the victory. Harmon and senior ahead Taylor Jones scored a mixed 28 factors for the Longhorns.
South Carolina outscored Texas in factors within the paint, 40-18, and within the second quarter, 21-6, each of which performed a giant function within the Gamecocks’ win. Texas goes to need to play higher on the inside and never led South Carolina go on a giant run within the second half with the intention to avenge that loss.
General, Texas and South Carolina are extraordinarily aware of every others play kinds. Two of premier defenses within the NCAAW match, the Gamecocks maintain a 2-1 collection lead over Texas within the common season. Restricted to 45 factors within the SEC match, Madison Booker can not afford to go awol. The main scorer for the Longhorns, No. 35 was restricted to 10 factors, on 4-13 taking pictures within the SEC Championship.
South Carolina And Texas Are SEC NCAAW Rivals
Backside line, the Longhorns must shoot extra environment friendly than 29.6 p.c from the sphere. After witnessing how South Carolina’s protection held up towards Duke, will South Carolina proceed their successful trajectory towards Texas. With a 4-3 report all-time, the Gamecocks stifling protection held the Longhorns to 53.7 factors by means of three video games.
Protection will undoubtedly will set the tone between the Longhorns and Gamecocks. Anticipated a bodily, shut sport between the 2 SEC rivals.
