Hey, now! This is what March Madness is all about. The UConn Huskies, hunting for their 12th national title, and the South Carolina Gamecocks, gunning for their second consecutive crown. Paige Bueckers is on a mission, and South Carolina is standing in her way. After an 85-51 demolition of UCLA, UConn enters this game locked in and ready to make history. South Carolina won’t go down easy—they’ve got one of the most dominant defenses in the country, but Bueckers and the Huskies are operating at another level, and this championship is theirs to take. But don’t think Dawn Staley won’t have something to say about Bueckers’ destiny—she’s a coach who’s delivered championships and knows exactly how to stop an unstoppable force. I’ll detail it all in my preview, prediction, pick, and best bet for this March Madness Final Four women’s college basketball game between South Carolina and UConn.
Here’s how I’ll play the game. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games each round, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more.
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South Carolina vs. UConn preview, prediction
UConn is first in defensive efficiency and second in offensive efficiency, a matchup nightmare. They score 81.6 points per game (ninth in the nation) while holding opponents to 51.8 points (first in the nation)—they’re suffocating on defense and explosive on offense. In the Final Four, they didn’t just win—they obliterated UCLA, forcing 19 turnovers and shooting 55% from the field. Azzi Fudd, a national champion in her own right, added 19 points to the onslaught. Sarah Strong, the freshman phenom, has been a revelation, putting up 22 points and 13 rebounds in the Final Four. This team is rolling, and they’re all locked-in with one goal: the national championship.
But don’t sleep on South Carolina—the defending champs know how to win when the pressure’s at its peak. Dawn Staley’s squad has weathered every storm this tournament and is armed with the toughest defense in the country. Their defense is second in efficiency, and they can stifle teams with their ferocity. The Gamecocks have a relentless, suffocating style that makes every possession a battle. Aliyah Boston, Bree Hall, and Zia Cooke are battle-tested and relentless, but they’ve got an enormous task ahead of them against this multi-faceted UConn offense.
South Carolina will rely on their ability to lock down UConn’s shooters, but that’s easier said than done when you’ve got Bueckers, Strong, and Fudd all capable of lighting it up from anywhere on the floor. UConn’s shooting splits have been on fire all tournament, with their three-point percentage ranked fifth nationally, shooting 39.1% from deep, and they’ve made 36.5% of their field goals in the tournament, top-10 across the board. The Huskies’ ability to move the ball, create open looks, and execute in high-pressure moments will be the difference. Bueckers’ shooting percentage has been 48.7% from the field in the tournament, and she’s shooting a ridiculous 61.9% from three-point range in her past three games, including that 40-point explosion against USC. She’s dialed in and primed to perform.
UConn vs. South Carolina pick, best bet
UConn is on a mission, and they’re firing on all cylinders. Their offensive depth, with Strong, Bueckers, and Fudd carrying the load, is a problem for anyone, and South Carolina has already seen how dangerous this team can be, losing 87-58 back in February. UConn’s defense is equally smothering, ranked first in defensive efficiency, and their pressure is going to rattle South Carolina’s shooters.
Feels like these tournaments are delivering us a message: Never, ever bet against the best player on the floor. Walter Clayton, Jr., we’re looking at you. Eyes also on Cooper Flagg as of this writing; he’s bloated the stat sheet against Houston through the first 32 minutes of this one.
So, too, will it come to pass in the NCAAW 2025 National Title game with Paige Bueckers. She is ineluctable. And here she is on the brink once more. Game by game, she’s cobbled together a March Madness run the structural integrity of which—especially with a win this afternoon—will forever withstand all that erosion and nastiness time tends to level on even the most enduring legacies. She competes at a level that makes you ask: What’s she playing for, really? Like, deep-down? All that drive, all that force of purpose—
No matter. She’ll spear her way into a cover for us and a Natty for UConn—their first since 2016. A spectacle indeed.
Best bet: UConn -6.5 (-105)
Tail Paige Bueckers to reach the mountaintop and win the National Championship with Uconn in the DKN Betting Group here!
Want to approach your March Madness Bracket with the same precision as the top 1% of bracket pool winners? Check out what the PoolGenius optimizer has to offer!
