“Familiarity really helps when you’re playing a team in a program like UConn.” Those were Dawn Staley’s words before tipoff. Well, familiarity didn’t help them this time. This wasn’t just a loss—it was a statement. UConn didn’t just end South Carolina’s 71-game streak; they dismantled them, turning a showdown of powerhouses into a lopsided rout. For Staley, frustration boiled over. She didn’t hold back, publicly calling out her team in a way rarely seen before. The message was clear: This wasn’t just a bad night—it was a reckoning. But the real question remains—how will South Carolina respond?

In the postgame press conference, Staley didn’t mince words: “Obviously, when you lose like this, there’s something else that’s going on that isn’t just about basketball. So we’ve got to figure that out and get back on it. Get back on it.”

The loss was historic. South Carolina’s 71-game home winning streak, the fourth longest in Division I women’s basketball history, came to a crashing halt. For the first time since December 2020, the Gamecocks walked off their home court defeated. The stat sheet told part of the story: UConn dominated the boards 48-29, knocked down 13 three-pointers to South Carolina’s three, and racked up 22 assists to the Gamecocks’ seven. But the deeper issue wasn’t just statistical—it was structural.

Despite boasting the deepest bench in the nation, averaging 42.0 bench points per game, South Carolina’s starters crumbled. The bench contributed 31 of the team’s 58 points, while the starting five managed just 27. Staley acknowledged the breakdown: “I feel really bad for our fans. I mean, they packed the house. They did their part. And we just really had an embarrassing performance. And we’ve got to get things back on track. I mean, I think we have probably all of our streaks have been broken this particular year. But it was a hell of a ride. I mean, to win 71 straight. Is it 71? 71 straight here. We got a chance to start a new streak on Thursday, and we’ve got to get back at it.”

Meanwhile, UConn, led by Azzi Fudd’s 28 points, flipped the script. Paige Bueckers orchestrated the offense with 12 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, while Sarah Strong added 16 points and 13 boards. The Huskies didn’t just win—they were overwhelmed. Their 22-3 first-quarter run put South Carolina in a hole they couldn’t escape. Even Geno Auriemma, a coach never short on criticism, had previously pointed out the challenge Staley’s team presents, but this time, UConn had the answer.

UConn’s statement win: Auriemma’s validation, Staley’s challenge

So what’s the major advantage that Staley has over Auriemma? Depth. It’s a luxury UConn has lacked in recent years due to injuries and roster turnover. But as Sunday’s game proved, depth isn’t always enough. The Gamecocks needed their stars to step up, and they didn’t. The bench kept them afloat, but against a team as disciplined as UConn, that wasn’t enough.

For Auriemma, this win was validation. UConn entered the game with just a 38.4% chance of victory, according to ESPN’s matchup predictor. They had lost four straight to South Carolina. Yet, they walked into a packed Colonial Life Arena and not only won, but dominated. The key moment came early—when UConn trailed 11-9 and then unleashed a 22-3 run, turning a tight game into a rout. From there, South Carolina never recovered.

Despite the loss, Staley’s program remains elite. One bad game doesn’t erase years of dominance. But it does raise questions. South Carolina thrives on depth, but in a game where the starters faltered, they had no answer for a UConn team firing on all cylinders. The challenge now? Adjust. Staley knows that streaks end, but champions respond. Thursday’s game against Arkansas presents the first opportunity to start anew.