MINNEAPOLIS — Neither semifinal was notably fairly, however we’ve received a title match set for Sunday when South Carolina meets UConn for the ladies’s basketball championship in Minneapolis.
It’s dynasty-in-waiting vs. established dynasty and a showcase of the 2 most up-to-date nationwide gamers of the 12 months. The Gamecocks and Huskies are possible to supply a spectacular ultimate.
However earlier than that, there have been loads of winners and losers from Friday evening’s semifinals within the Goal Heart.
Listed below are the highlights:
WINNERS
The double-double
After 27 consecutive double-doubles, South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston noticed her streak snapped within the Gamecocks’ regional ultimate win over Creighton. However Boston, the nationwide participant of the 12 months, gave the impression to be uninterested in listening to about that. Boston scored 23 factors and grabbed 18 rebounds in South Carolina’s semifinal win over Louisville, possible the beginning of a brand new streak. Stanford’s Haley Jones additionally notched a double-double with 20 factors and 11 rebounds.
Minneapolis
The host metropolis will get to see what it wished most, when hometown lady Paige Bueckers tries to steer Connecticut to its first title since 2016. The Huskies, probably the most profitable program within the historical past of the game, have gained a report 11 titles, however are on an unprecedented drought on this century. Bueckers, the nationwide participant of the 12 months as a freshman final season, has solely performed 16 video games due to damage points, however averages 14.6 factors, 4.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and shoots 55% from the sphere.
UConn seniors
For a bunch that doesn’t have a nationwide championship — and hasn’t superior to this sport in 4 consecutive tries — this class performed fairly darn nicely Friday evening. Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Christyn Williams and Evina Westbrook mixed for 30 factors, 18 rebounds and 6 assists. Halfway by means of the second half, Williams and Nelson-Ododa mixed to attain 13 in a row for Connecticut.
Everybody watching at residence
For as entertaining and electrical because the environment was within the Goal Heart, Twitter implied the higher watch get together was taking place on TV, the place former UConn stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Fowl hosted an alternate telecast on ESPNU. The WNBA veterans, who’ve been shut mates for 20 years, entertained visitors comparable to Invoice Walton, Kelsey Plum and Caitlin Clark, amongst others, whereas making enjoyable of … nicely, everybody and every part, together with one another.
Requested if he had plans to observe the telecast in some unspecified time in the future, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma mentioned, “When you’ve been around those two as long as I have, I really, truly have no interest in hearing anything they have to say. On any topic, especially me.”
LOSERS
Offense
For all of the discuss South Carolina’s offense being subpar, it was truly Stanford and UConn that turned in an unpleasant grinder of a sport, taking pictures a mixed 44-of-123 (35.7%) Friday evening. Let’s hope Sunday is a a lot better showcase.
Emily Engstler
After transferring from Syracuse, Engstler put collectively an amazing season for Louisville, averaging 11.9 factors, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 steals and a pair of.3 assists. She was one of many Cardinals’ only gamers defensively, too. However Friday was fairly depressing for Engstler, because the senior fouled out with 4:56 to go and the Cardinals trailing, 63-54. She completed with 18 factors.
Tara VanDerveer’s 3-point problem
Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer pledged to donate $10 for each 3 made within the girls’s NCAA Event. Would not it have been a storybook ending if her staff, the defending nationwide champions, superior to its second consecutive title sport by nailing a ton of 3s in what’s broadly thought-about the toughest sport of the event? Yeah, it could have. As a substitute, Stanford went simply 4-of-23 from past the arc.
Comply with Lindsay Schnell on Twitter @Lindsay_Schnell
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Final Four winners and losers: UConn seniors finally reach title game
