SACRAMENTO, California — South Carolina, a program well-acquainted with celebrating tournament victories following the third weekend of March Madness, has secured its spot in a sixth consecutive Final Four by defeating TCU 78-52 during Monday’s Elite Eight contest.
The Gamecocks stand as only the second squad in NCAA annals to achieve six straight Final Four appearances, yet head coach Dawn Staley — who has also guided the team to three national titles — conveyed that this accomplishment never loses its unique appeal.
“It doesn’t feel commonplace because of the extensive effort required to reach this stage. It’s a tremendous undertaking,” Staley articulated. “Individuals often don’t witness the intricate processes involved in preparing a team and its entire program for a season’s challenges and ultimately advancing to the Final Four.”
While the institution has solidified its status as a dominant force in collegiate basketball, the current iteration of the Gamecocks exhibits significant changes. They brought in Ta’Niya Latson to bolster their guard play and Madina Okot for increased depth at the center position. Agot Makeer joined as a highly touted newcomer. Furthermore, they experienced the departure of several key players to other institutions and the WNBA. Senior guard Raven Johnson remains the sole member of the roster who has participated in the Final Four every year of her college tenure.
“There was a foundational group that was integral for the past, likely, five years … We just lost the fundamental core of our roster,” Staley remarked. “Therefore, I am genuinely proud of our athletes for navigating and overcoming all the difficulties inherent in a demanding season.”
Although the Gamecocks perceive themselves as a less seasoned unit in certain respects, they have undeniably dominated their bracket thus far. They achieved scores of at least 90 points in their initial three tournament matchups — including reaching the 100-point mark in the Rounds of 64 and 32 — and boast a +161-point differential against their adversaries. This represents the fourth-largest point advantage recorded heading into the Final Four in NCAA history.
Prior to Monday’s game, they had not experienced a single moment of trailing in this year’s competition. However, TCU landed the initial blow, establishing an early 6-0 advantage. Two significant scoring surges at the close of the first and second quarters provided South Carolina a narrow seven-point edge at halftime, but this performance diverged from the customary commanding displays the Gamecocks had grown used to.
“The mindset must shift,” sophomore forward Joyce Edwards stated regarding their ability to recover from a deficit. “When you’re engaged in an uphill struggle, you’re perpetually battling. Every single thing — you are in a condition where each possession holds importance, every minor detail matters.”
Maintaining an eight-point cushion entering the fourth quarter, Edwards recounted that Latson informed South Carolina’s huddle they would extend their lead to 20 points by the five-minute mark of the final period.
“That’s precisely what we accomplished,” Edwards affirmed. “I believe our defensive intensity heightened. And that strong defense transitioned into offense, allowing us to secure several fast-break scores. From that point, our advantage only grew.”
The Gamecocks initiated the fourth quarter with an uninterrupted 14-0 scoring run. By the seven-minute mark, their lead had expanded to 20 points.
Edwards compiled a game-high 24 points and also led her squad with 12 rebounds. Makeer contributed 18 points, while Raven Johnson concluded with 10 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Tessa Johnson accounted for all 11 of her points during the fourth quarter.
“Coach consistently mentioned that the Elite Eight would prove to be one of the most challenging matchups in the tournament,” Edwards reflected. “But it truly highlights our tenacity, our resolve, our collective spirit, and I am confident all these attributes will help build impetus moving into the Final Four.”
The Gamecocks are slated to compete against UConn in the Final Four on April 3; this serves as a repeat encounter of last year’s national championship game, which saw the Huskies emerge victorious with a score of 82-59.
“The sensation of defeat was not pleasant last year,” Tessa Johnson commented. “However, this is an entirely new season. A completely new roster. Both teams are distinct. UConn differs from last year’s squad. We are also different from last year. So, it promises to be an excellent game.”
With the Gamecocks joining UConn, UCLA, and Texas — all holding No. 1 seeds — to complete the Final Four lineup, this occurrence marks only the second time in NCAA annals that the identical four teams have vied in consecutive Final Fours (occurring in 1995 and 1996).
