MINNEAPOLIS — How fitting that South Carolina’s title came at UConn’s expense. A new dynasty, ushered in over the old.
In winning its second title in six years Sunday, South Carolina handed UConn its first loss in 12 national championship games. Decisively, too, the overwhelming performance leaving no doubt that this was a title won by South Carolina rather than lost by UConn.
Aliyah Boston with what’s become her signature, a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds. South Carolina with 21 offensive rebounds, three fewer than UConn had in total. And Destanni Henderson having the performance of her life in her final college game, scoring a career-high 26 while helping to contain Paige Bueckers.
Add it up, and it was a 64-49 victory that wasn’t even as close as that scoreline looked.
“UConn is not only a great team, they’re a great tradition. They’re a part of our women’s basketball history. Can’t really take that away from them,” coach Dawn Staley said. “But today, it was divinely ordered for us to be champions. We weren’t going to be denied.”
Not on this night, and likely not any time soon.
If not for the tournament being canceled in 2020, when South Carolina was 32-1 and expected to be the overall No. 1 seed, and last-second misses in last year’s national semifinal, this could be three in a row for the Gamecocks. As it is, they are set up to do it all again next year.
Boston, the consensus national player of the year, Brea Beal and Zia Cooke…
