We anticipated a highly competitive Women’s Final Four this year, as for the second straight season, all four No. 1 seeds made it to the final weekend.
A pair of newcomers in UCLA and Texas met with the Bruins prevailing, but the game that drew the most attention was a rematch of last season’s championship between UConn and South Carolina.
The Huskies thoroughly outperformed Carolina, winning decisively with a score of 82-59 as Geno Auriemma landed his 12th national title win in 2025.
Well, revenge is a dish best served cold, and South Carolina got just that in Friday’s 62-48 upset victory over top-seeded UConn. Dawn Staley’s ball club triumphed over the consensus pick for title winner in the semifinal behind a masterclass defensive effort.
Now, standing in the way of the SEC powerhouses’ path to redemption is UCLA’s frontcourt juggernaut, Lauren Betts, and a Bruins team making their first-ever championship game in program history.
South Carolina enters 3.5-point favorites, with the Over/Under set at 129.5 total points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
South Carolina vs. UCLA prediction, best bet
The Gamecocks were on our radar when it came time for early tourney predictions and for good reason. Now they are embarking on their third national title in five seasons.
They are coming off arguably their best defensive game in the Staley era, holding UConn to just 48 points on 31 percent shooting, 38 points below their per-game average of 86.8.
It was a miserable night for All-Americans Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd.
The key pair struggled immensely, combining for only 20 points after shooting a terrible 7-for-31 from the field as South Carolina forced them into difficult looks all night long.
The Gamecocks’ rebounding dominance was also a major factor, as they outrebounded UConn 47-32, with key contributions from Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot.
Florida State transfer Ta’Niya Latson led all scorers with 16 points and added eleven rebounds.
In order to keep Betts from taking over, Staley is going to need another productive outing from the 6-foot-6 Okot in the paint.
Standing at 6-foot-7, Betts has showcased her complete skill set during the Bruins’ run, posting tournament averages of 22.4 points (a team high), nine rebounds and three blocks over five games.
Entering Sunday’s contest, UCLA’s 132.1 adjusted offensive efficiency is ranked as the best in the country according to Bart Torvik, primarily because of Betts’s ability to facilitate from the post.
Head coach Cori Close also deploys a group of guards, including Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jacquez, Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger-Walker, to complete the rotation.
This small-ball group pays dividends, with Rice averaging 15.1 points per game and Leger-Walker leading the team with 5.7 assists.
The only downside to having multiple guards is their tendency to mishandle the basketball.
In the Bruins’ 51-44 win over Texas, they committed a season-worst 23 turnovers, a disaster waiting to happen, especially against this version of South Carolina.
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SEC Defensive Player of the Year Raven Johnson brings plenty of championship pedigree, having won two titles with Staley already. Freshman Agot Makeer has been outstanding off the bench, scoring double digits in all five of the Gamecocks’ recent games.
Edwards, who is averaging 19.5 points per game, also presents a matchup nightmare for the Bruins limited rotation of forwards.
Expect South Carolina to dominate the boards with their frontcourt depth and implement another tough physical style of defense to disrupt UCLA’s offensive rhythm.
Take them to cover the 3.5 points so Staley’s redemption arc can be fulfilled.
The Play: South Carolina -3.5 (-115, BetMGM)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
