After getting ‘smacked’ again in title game, South Carolina’s Staley plots program’s next moves
PHOENIX — South Carolina’s quest to win a fourth national title ended in ugly fashion for a second straight season when the Gamecocks lost to UCLA 79-51 in the NCAA women’s basketball title game on Sunday. Even so, the monster program that Dawn Staley has built over the past 15 years doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. “Obviously, we got smacked today,” Staley said.
“We got to figure out how we smack back and put ourselves in the position where we’re hoisting the trophy at the end of the day. ” South Carolina should be one of the top contenders to make a seventh straight Final Four in 2027 and will have plenty of motivation after Sunday’s miserable performance. The Gamecocks shot just 29% from the field and the 28-point margin was among the biggest in championship game history.
It’s the second straight year South Carolina has fallen flat in the title game. The Gamecocks lost 82-59 to UConn in the 2025 final. “To get here is hard,” Staley said.
“To win here is harder, right? We just have to keep getting here and make adjustments when we don’t win. ” Staley will undoubtedly stew over this loss for a while, but once she focuses on next season, there are lots of reasons for optimism.
Leading scorer Joyce Edwards and Tessa Johnson are expected to return, while Madina Okot is seeking a fifth year of eligibility from the NCAA. Veteran forward Chloe Kitts has said she’ll be back after missing this year with a torn ACL. There’s also the possibility that forward Ashlyn Watkins could return after recovering from a knee injury and taking a year away from the program to focus on personal growth.