Uconn is back at the top of women’s basketball, winning his 12th national championship by buying the champion in the title of South Carolina, 82-59, Sunday behind 24 points from Azzi Fudd.
Sarah Strong added 24 points and 15 rebounds while Paige Bueckers – The first overall choice planned in the WNBA 2025 draft next week – collected 17 points in her last game in Uconn (37-3).
“It’s incredible to have three players, three people like that in the same team,” said Uconn coach Geno Auriemma. “You might think that Sarah graduated in the way she plays, right? All three complement each other so well. They all have unique skills.”
Bueckers has crowned his stellar career with the first Huskies championship since 2016, ending a nine -year drought for the team. It was the longest for Auriemma and its Huskies since the team won its first championship in 1995.
Here are the strengths of the Sunday match!
The seeded n ° 2 UCONN dominates the South of the South Temps Carolina to win her 12th title
Auriemma submitted Bueckers, Fudd and Strong with 1:32 to play in the game. Bueckers and Auriemma had a long hug on the sidelines, after finally obtaining this championship which he wanted so much for her.
“They have all been rewarding,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, but this one here, because of the way it happened and what has been involved, it’s been a long time since I am emotional when a player has left the field.”
Uconn then put the match in the third quarter behind Fudd, who was appointed the most remarkable player in the Final Four, Strong and Bueckers. The trio combined for 23 of the 26 points of the team during the quarter. Uconn was up 50-39 with 3:21 to do in the period before closing with a 12-3 race.
Uconn entered half-time 10 points, 36-26. Fudd collected a 13 -point top, while Strong had a summit of 11 rebounds, two interceptions and two blocks. Uconn pulled 48.4% in the field, while South Carolina pulled 31.3%.
The South Carolina has arrived at less than three points in the second quarter, but the tight match was short -lived. Uconn’s offensive went back on the right track and led 29-22 with 3:50 to play until the break. In what was the second burst of the second quarters, Bueckers put the ball inside for Fudd, which made a disputed blow.
Continuing to rely on their advance as things continued, the Huskies led 19-14 at the end of the first quarter.
There seemed to be no nerves early for one or the other team when the match started quickly. The teams exchanged baskets during the first minutes before the defenses started to tighten. Uconn led 15-13 at the first time TV, helped by a 7-0 race and the great games of Fudd, Kaitlyn Chen and Jan El Alfy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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