Dawn Staley, South Carolina Beat Geno Auriemma, UConn in Final Four, Eye 1st NCAA Title Since 2024

South Carolina is once again on its way to the national championship game.

The No. 1 Gamecocks downed the top overall seed in the tournament, UConn, 62-48 in the national semifinal to punch their ticket to the title game for a third consecutive season.

The loss for Geno Auriemma, Azzi Fudd and the Huskies marks their first since last February, as they came into the contest 38-0.

South Carolina, which has won three titles since Dawn Staley took over, will face either No. 1 Texas or No. 1 UCLA in the championship game.

Ta'Niya Latson led the way for South Carolina's offense with 16 points and 11 boards. Agot Makeer posted 14 off the bench and Joyce Edwards notched 11 points.

The drama in Friday's game wasn't limited to just what happened on the court. In the final seconds as Staley approached Auriemma to shake hands, the two coaches had a heated exchange.

"I have no idea, but I'll let you know this: I'm of integrity," Staley told Holly Rowe of the interaction on the ESPN broadcast. "If I did something wrong to Geno, I have no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn't shake his hand at the beginning of the game."

Staley and the Gamecocks will now shift their focus to the championship, where they'll match up with another very good team.