UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) shoots towards South Carolina ahead Sania Feagin (20) in the course of the first half of the nationwide championship recreation of the ladies’s NCAA faculty basketball event on Sunday in Tampa, Fla.
Chris O’Meara/AP
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Chris O’Meara/AP
TAMPA, Fla. — UConn is again on high of women’s basketball, profitable its twelfth nationwide championship by routing defending champion South Carolina 82-59 on Sunday behind Azzi Fudd’s 24 factors.
Sarah Sturdy added 24 factors and 15 rebounds whereas Paige Bueckers had 17 factors in her remaining recreation at UConn (37-3).
Bueckers capped her stellar profession with the Huskies’ first championship since 2016, ending a nine-year title drought for the workforce. That was longest for coach Geno Auriemma and his Huskies because the workforce received its first championship in 1995 led by Rebecca Lobo.
Since then the Huskies have had dominant championship runs, together with within the early 2000s led by Sue Chicken and Diana Taurasi, 2009-10 with Maya Moore and eventually the 4 straight from 2013-16 with Breanna Stewart. All had been in attendance in Florida on Sunday to see the Huskies’ newest title.
Lastly wholesome, the anticipated No. 1 choose within the WNBA draft on April 14, Bueckers delivered for the Huskies all through their championship season.
It was the one factor lacking from her unbelievable UConn profession that was slowed by accidents. She was the primary freshman to win AP Participant of the 12 months earlier than lacking lots of her sophomore season with a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear. She then tore an ACL earlier than the subsequent season.
UConn closed the primary half up 10 factors after which put the sport away within the third quarter behind Fudd, Sturdy and Bueckers. The trio mixed for 23 of the workforce’s 26 factors within the quarter. UConn was up 50-39 with 3:21 left within the interval earlier than closing with a 12-3 run to place the sport away.
Fudd and Sturdy received it began with back-to-back 3s, and the rout was on. Auriemma subbed Bueckers, Fudd and Sturdy out with 1:32 left. Bueckers and Auriemma had a protracted hug on the sideline, having lastly gotten that championship that he so needed for her.
Daybreak Staley’s workforce was making an attempt for a 3rd title in 4 years and fourth general. It might have tied her with Kim Mulkey for third most behind Auriemma and former Tennessee Corridor of Fame coach Pat Summitt, who had eight.
UConn had reached the title recreation solely as soon as throughout its drought since 2016. The Huskies had been eradicated by heartbreaking last-second losses within the Ultimate 4 on buzzer-beaters. The Huskies’ final title recreation look got here in 2022 when Staley’s workforce beat UConn to start out the Gamecocks’ present run of success, a recreation that ended Auriemma’s good report in title video games.
There appeared to be no nerves early for both workforce as the sport received off to a quick begin. The groups traded baskets for the primary jiffy earlier than the defenses began to clamp down. The Huskies led 19-14 after one quarter after which prolonged the benefit to 36-26 on the half. Fudd had 13 factors and Sturdy added eight factors and 11 rebounds.
