In the past 4 NCAA tournaments, Dawn Staley holds a record of 21-1. That one loss was against the Caitlin Clark-led Iowa Hawkeyes back in 2023. It was the Final Four game, where the Gamecocks lost 77-73. South Carolina was on an undefeated run and could have been the 10th team to win the championship being undefeated. However, the coach got her revenge as they won the championship last season and which meant CC’s resume had no NCAA ring. But why did the past battle come up after the win against the Texas Longhorns?

Speaking to the media in the post-game press conference, Dawn Staley spoke about the team losing the first quarter but managing to come back. “We found ourselves in that situation, um, against Iowa last year in the national championship when we were down 10 or 11 to nothing. Then you, as a coach, you’re just evaluating what’s happening out there.” As the 54-year-old mentioned, the team went on a streak despite being 7 points down in the first quarter.

South Carolina trailed 46-44 late in the second quarter before going on an 11-0 run spanning halftime to open a 55-46 advantage early in the third quarter. Clark finally ended the run with a layup. The season ended with glory for the Hall of Famer coach as they became the first undefeated champions (38-0) since UConn in 2016. That win last year also meant that Dawn Staley is undefeated in the Finals. But does it matter as they face UConn this year?

“I don’t even bring it up. It’s just singularly focused on winning a game. Nothing that happened prior to here is going to help us on Sunday − nothing. If it’s UConn, it’s not going to help us. If it’s UCLA, not going to help us.” Dawn Staley was pretty clear that past records won’t matter when the lights shine the brightest.

“I think playing in the game and seeing how you know the game is being played out is the only thing that’s going to help us. You know, saying that we’re undefeated in national championship games like it’s not, it’s not gonna, I wish it helped.”

Paige Bueckers might suffer the same fate as Caitlin Clark at the hands of Dawn Staley

A rematch of the 2022 championship game awaits us, as the UConn successfully trampled the Bruins. In a dominant 85-51 win over UCLA, the Huskies will play South Carolina on Sunday. Paige Bueckers is yet to add the NCAA championship to her resume as she is heading to the WNBA soon. Just like Caitlin Clark, the Huskies star is expected to be the consensus number one draft pick.

So, she will be extra motivated to cap off the career with a ring. But there is no lack of motivation either for Dawn Staley’s team. Apart from the coach,  sophomores MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson are also undefeated in title games, along with fifth-year transfer Te-Hina Paopao, who were all part of the 2024 title team. They beat the Iowa Hawkeyes and ended the season undefeated (38-0).

Earlier this year, the Huskies beat South Carolina by 29 points in Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 16. However, the Gamecocks beat UConn 64-49 to win the program’s second title back in 2022. Now, Dawn Staley’s team is one win away from becoming the first team to win back-to-back national championships since UConn’s historic four-peat from 2013 to 2016. During the press conference, the coach teased about the game, “Sunday sounds good.”