UConn’s undefeated season ends with a Final Four loss to South Carolina

After winning their first 38 games of the season, the Huskies were outscored by 16 points in the final 20 minutes to fall to their fellow No. 1 seed. South Carolina62-48, in the Final Four.

The game was a rematch of last year’s national championship, which the Huskies won in a saga that ended the career of UConn alum Paige Bueckers.

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South Carolina guard Agot Maker and UConn guard Kayleigh Heckel scramble for the ball during the second half of an NCAA women’s basketball tournament Final Four semifinal in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

It’s the fourth time in the past five years that the Gamecocks have returned to the national championship, while the Huskies have won 54 straight dating back to last year.

Tanya Latson scored 16 points and Agout Maker added 14 points, while South Carolina played stifling defense. UConn (38-1) entered the Final Four undefeated for the ninth time in school history, and the third straight time left without a title. The Huskies also lost in the 2017 and 2018 national semifinals.

It was the fewest points UConn has scored since it scored 49 points in a national championship game loss to the Gamecocks in 2022.

South Carolina guards Tessa Johnson and Agout Meeker celebrate after defeating UConn in an NCAA women’s college basketball tournament Final Four semifinal game in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Rick Scottri/AP)

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South Carolina led 46-44 a few minutes into the third quarter, scoring five straight points, capped by an Agout Maker 3-pointer to extend the lead to seven points.

UConn’s Sarah Strong hit a 3-pointer to bring the Huskies back within 51-47 with 4:39 left, but the Huskies didn’t score again until Strong hit a free throw with 30.8 seconds left, after South Carolina had scored 11 straight points.

Strong, who was honored as AP Player of the Week on Thursday, had 12 points and 12 rebounds, but was 4-for-16 from the field. Izzi Fade scored just eight points for the Huskies, making just 3 of 15 shots.

UConn had its worst shooting night of the season, finishing 19-for-61 (31.1%) from the field.

The match was titled A Heated exchange after the match Among the coaches are Geno Auriemma and Don Staley.

Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks argues with Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies during the second half of an NCAA women’s Final Four semifinal game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 3, 2026. (Photo by C. Morgan Engle/NCAA via Getty Images)

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The Gamecocks will now face UCLA on Sunday in the national championship.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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