Uconn beats USC to return to the 24th Final Four recording, defines the match compared to the serial UCLA

Spokane, Washington – N ° 2 UCONN beaten the N ° 1 USC 78-64 Monday evening in Spokane, Washington, propelling the Huskies to a 24th Final Four Record and their 16th since 2008.

The Trojan horses were without a second year feeling Juju Watkins, and could not ultimately counter the power of the stars of Uconn. Paige Bueckers, the Senior Star Guard, finished with 31 points and six assists on 9 shots out of 18. This, after losing a career summit of 40 against Oklahoma in the Sweet 16.

With the Elite Eight victory of Uconn, the Final Four is now officially settled. And there will be a lot of stars power in Tampa, Florida, later this week.

Paige. Bueckers.

📺 Espn pic.twitter.com/ib7amfkhpl

– Uconn Women’s Basketball (@uconnwbb) April 1, 2025

Against the USC, the real first -year striker Sarah Strong – AthleticsThe unanimous first year student of the year – was also dominant for the Huskies, ending with 22 points and 17 rebounds. She was up to 15 points at halftime. UCONN coach Geno Auriemma – who also congratulated goalkeeper Kaitlyn Chen for his 15 points – said the Huskies had put a handful of pieces specifically before Monday, knowing that the USC would make things difficult on Bueckers early. The 19-year-old Strong struck two 3 points at the first quarter and finished four out of the six arc.

“I’m going to include Paige in it too, but not much surprised me. Little things that Sarah makes me go”, Wow, I didn’t know she could do that “,” said Auriemma. “Maybe I’m so high about her that there are things I saw her doing in high school that I close my eyes and I thought:” Wow, if you transfer this to university, I don’t think anyone can manage this because no one has anyone who has the skills she has. “”

“I think that the confidence we have in Paige and Sarah makes specifically that everyone in our team really feels, really, really assured that” I just have to do my part and it will be pretty good. “”

Bueckers did not move away from expectations in Uconn – where the national championships are the norm. The Huskies have not won everything since 2016, and something less than a Tampa trophy would forever haunt Bueckers, the only superstar of coach Auriemma without title.

But first, the Huskies must go through the UCLA.

The best classified Bruins beat No. 3 LSU 72-65 in Spokane on Sunday and have one of the hardest players in the tournament to keep in the 6-inch 7-inch center Lauren Betts. Betts on average 20 points per match, but has known at least 30 in two of its last three games. Even in a slow night for her, when she marked 17 against LSU, the Bruins had too much depth for the tigers.

The Bruins have never won a national women’s basketball championship and are determined to bring new equipment to the house under the coach Cori Close.

Texas, which faces South Carolina, has not won a national title since 1986. Auriemma and the Southern Carolina coach, Dawn Staley, are well compensated for with such high issues. Auriemma is looking for its 12th title, while Staley seeks to make South Carolina the first consecutive sport champion in Uconn in 2015 and 2016.

Texas n ° 1 beat N ° 2 TCU 58-47 in Birmingham, preparing the field for a fourth meeting between Longhorns and Gamecocks No. 1 Friday. The South Carolina, winner of three national championships under coach Dawn Staley, is looking to go consecutive to her second consecutive title and her third championship in the past four years. He struck their ticket by beating Duke 54-50 on Sunday and entered the match with Texas after beating the Longhorns in two of the three previous meetings this season, including the dry championship match.

Friday, the Longhorns and Gamecocks will have a tip at 7 p.m. HE. The Huskies and the Bruins will then take the front of the stage at 9 p.m. HE. The two games will be broadcast on ESPN.

“Obviously, these matches are really, really, really difficult,” said Auriemma. “There is a way to win these matches and, in general, they are in the back of one or two private players who will put the team on the back and get us to the higher level, to bring us in the Final Four.”

(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)