UConn and South Carolina met again in a national championship rematch two years in the making. Back in 2022, Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks made history by becoming the first team to beat Geno Auriemma in a title game. But this time, the tables turned—big time. On Sunday afternoon, the Huskies didn’t just win—they dismantled South Carolina, 82–59, to claim their record 12th national title. It was Paige Bueckers’ moment, and Geno’s redemption.

As the basketball world soaked in the blowout, South Carolina legend and current Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson finally reacted on Threads. Her first od two post came as a lighthearted jab for her Aces teammate, Kiah Stokes—a proud UConn alum who had plenty to celebrate after the Huskies’ dominant win. Wilson responded with grace, honesty, and a little humor: “I know Kiah loves me so I’m not worried 😂 UConn big three was eating all tourney 😮‍💨 congrats to the huskies.” That was it. Raw. Real. And painfully honest.

That post said a lot in just a few lines. The “I know Kiah loves me” part? That’s just A’ja being A’ja—keeping it playful with her teammate. She knew Kiah was about to talk her talk after UConn’s win, but also knew there was nothing but love between them. And the rest of the claim? That was A’ja giving UConn their flowers, especially to their big three—Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and freshman sensation Sarah Strong. 

The three of them didn’t just show up in the title game—they ran it. Fudd led the way with 24 points and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Strong, just a freshman, also poured in 24 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. And Bueckers, in her final game in a Huskies uniform, put up 17 points, shot 7-of-8 from the line, and became the third-highest scorer in NCAA Tournament history with 477 career points. All three had been locked in the entire tournament—and Wilson, a competitor through and through, gave them credit.

She even paired paired her update with a GIF—someone dramatically pretending to puke. But it wasn’t about UConn’s win being disgusting—it was about the gut-punch she felt as a South Carolina alum watching her squad get dismantled on the biggest stage. The loss wasn’t close. UConn outplayed the Gamecocks in every area, forcing 19 turnovers and holding them to just 18% from three. It was the largest loss of Dawn Staley’s coaching career. South Carolina just didn’t have it. They shot 34% from the field, hit only two threes, and turned the ball over 13 times. It was one of those nights where nothing goes right—and UConn, well, they made sure of that. And, for someone like A’ja, who helped build South Carolina into a powerhouse, it was hard to watch. That GIF said what every Gamecock fan was feeling—it hurt.

Then came her second post: “Paige’s journey is truly special!” That was more than just a compliment. It was deep respect. Bueckers came into college as a phenom, then battled back from injuries that would’ve broken most players. She never complained. PB led. She sacrificed. In this tournament, even when she wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard—like scoring just one field goal across the second and third quarters in the final—she still found ways to win. More than that, Bueckers has used her platform to lift others, especially Black women in sports. She’s been vocal, intentional, and inclusive.

And finally, came the third post—a closer that pulled it all together: “and e’YEA forever loving the cocks over here!! Great season! 👏🏽” That’s where you could feel her pride come through. Yes, it stung. Yes, the loss was ugly. But she wasn’t turning her back on the program that made her. She stayed loyal to South Carolina, giving the team love and appreciation for the season they had. Despite the heartbreak, Wilson made sure her girls knew they still had her heart. 

As for the South Carolina Gamecocks head coach…

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UCONN, was as close to a perfect team as I have seen. They are an amazing all around team with...more

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Dawn Staley keeps it real after UConn ends Carolina’s perfect season

Dawn Staley doesn’t do spin. She never has. So when her South Carolina team got smacked by UConn in the national championship game, she didn’t duck, dodge, or sugarcoat a thing.

“We lost to a very good basketball team,” she said afterward. “They beat our a–, but they didn’t make us like it – there’s a difference.”

That quote said it all. This wasn’t just a loss. It was a humbling, head-shaking, we’ll-see-you-next-year kind of beatdown. South Carolina came into Sunday 38–0 and looking to cap off a perfect season with back-to-back titles. Instead, they walked out with their first and only loss of the year—and it wasn’t even close.

The game plan was solid. Staley wanted to run UConn off the three-point line and make it a game of twos. And to be fair, it was working early. “I thought we did a great job protecting the 3-point line,” she said. “If we could make it a game of 2s, we could keep it close.” And for a while, they did. The Gamecocks were hanging around, only down by 10 at the half, and they even led the rebounding battle. Against UConn, that’s usually a good sign.

But you can only hang around for so long when you’re not making shots. And South Carolina just couldn’t buy a bucket. “We just weren’t able to get the looks we usually make,” Staley said. “We didn’t take care of the ball, we missed layups. They make you pay.” And UConn did, over and over again.

Once the Huskies got going—once Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Sarah Strong settled in—the game slipped fast. Every three they hit felt like a punch to the gut. “The 3-pointers they made were momentum changing,” Staley admitted. “When it gets to double digits it’s hard to come back on a UConn team that’s pretty great at executing.”

The Gamecocks’ defense, which looked sharp early, broke down in the second half. Ball screen coverage that had been tight suddenly got loose. “Our ball screen coverage was not great as it was in the first two quarters,” Staley said. And when you’re not hitting shots to keep up, that’s when the game gets away from you. “I tried to get our team to hone in on making shots because to beat UConn, you’ve gotta make shots.”

Still, Staley isn’t the kind to wallow. Even after a loss like that, she found some silver linings. She felt her team executed better this time around compared to their last matchup with UConn. “Although the score may not reflect it, I thought we executed better,” she said.

The good news? South Carolina isn’t going anywhere. Staley’s built a machine in Columbia. And if history’s any indication, a loss like this won’t set them back—it’ll light a fire.