Get ready for a clash of titans as No. 1 South Carolina and No. 1 Texas collide in a high-stakes Final Four matchup that could decide who's really the team to beat in the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. With a ticket to the national title game on the line, all eyes will be on Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, this Friday night.
South Carolina is no stranger to this stage. Dawn Staley's dynasty is on a mission to secure its third national championship in just four years--and the Gamecocks (34-3) have the firepower to do it. With a trio of stars--Joyce Edwards, MiLaysia Fulwiley, and Chloe Kitts--all averaging double digits, they've steamrolled their way through the bracket.
But don't count out the Longhorns. Texas is back in the Final Four for the first time since 1986, finally breaking through after several close calls. Head coach Vic Schaefer has built a team that's not only hungry but dangerous. They took out Hailey Van Lith and the Horned Frogs to punch their ticket to Tampa and aren't backing down from the challenge ahead.
A clash of SEC titans
This is more than just a semifinal--this is Round 4 of a heated season series between two SEC juggernauts. South Carolina holds the 2-1 edge, including a dominant 64-45 win in the conference championship game.
They've beaten Texas by a combined 36 points in their two wins, but the Longhorns snagged a hard-fought four-point win at home earlier in the season--and they're banking on that spark.
Texas will need a monster performance from star forward Madison Booker, who's averaging 16.5 points and shooting just under 50% from the field. She lit up the Gamecocks with 20 points in that regular-season win--and will need to do it again if Texas wants to take down the defending champs.
The statistics do not give a clear winner
Statistically, these teams are neck and neck in points per game and defense. The biggest difference? South Carolina's edge from beyond the arc, shooting 33.7% compared to Texas' sub-30%. But with both squads intimately familiar with each other's style, this one might come down to coaching brilliance as Staley and Schaefer go head-to-head one last time.
The winner will advance to Sunday's championship game to face either No. 2 UConn or No. 1 UCLA in what promises to be a thrilling finale to March Madness.
It's over! South Carolina wins it 74-57 and advance to the NCAA Women's NAtional Championship!
It's almost time, under two minutes and South Carolina has a double digit lead!
The Gamecocks are in control!
Texas is in big trouble...
On to the fourth quarter, Texas was held to 9 points!
Now the Gamecocks are dominating! it's 54-41 under 2 minutes to play!
Team trading baskets, and it's a 49-41 lead for South Carolina with 3>5 left in the third.
It's 47-39 just uner 7 minutes in the third!
South Carolina on a roll...
Here we go! The second half starts in Florida!
That is the end of the first half, the Lady Gamecock lead 38-35.
They pull within 3...
Texas with a chance before the buzzer, going to the line...
South Carolina with five straight points!
We are tied at 33 with just over 2 minutes left!
Back and forth trading shots! it's Texas now on top 28-27.
It;s a 23-22 lead now for South Carolina with just under 7 minutes to play in the second.
What a way to start the second quarter!
Here come the Lady Gamecocks...
That's the end of the first quarter, it's Texas on top but only 19-18.
The Lady Gamecocks are alive! just down by one with 32.8 seconds left in the first.
HEre comes South Carolina, it's a 12-9 game now.
Again to the line, this time Joyce Edwards and hits both shots.
South Carolina to the free throw line and manages only one point.
Just under 5 minutes left in th first, Texas still dominating
Texas in control with a 12-4 lead
Booker again! it's 8-2 Texas...
South Carolona on th board now, 6-2 game.
Madison Booker! Two more for the Longhorns!
Taylor Jones goes to the free throw line and she hits the first two shots of the game!
Here we go! Texas wins the tip-off and we are underway in the Final Four!
The National Anthem plays and everyone is almost ready...
Enough said...
Warming up
Look at the arena!
They are getting hyped
Everyone is getting set
The head coches are ready for this one
The Buckeyes eye final glory as heavy favorite over the Longhorns in Final Four showdown
The countdown to the NCAA Women's Championship is on--and South Carolina is charging in as the team to beat.
The No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks are set to face the Texas Longhorns in Friday's Final Four showdown, and make no mistake: Dawn Staley's squad enters as the overwhelming favorite.
With a dominant season under their belt and a 4-1 record over Texas since the Longhorns ed the SEC, South Carolina looks primed to punch their ticket to yet another national title game.
Their road to Tampa included a convincing Elite Eight win over Duke, while Texas clawed their way in with a victory over rival TCU. But despite sharing the same No. 1 seed status, the Gamecocks have made it clear who's boss in this rivalry.
The Gamecocks dominated the regular season
In three matchups this season alone, South Carolina claimed two wins--most notably a 64-45 rout in the SEC Tournament championship, where they crushed Texas with a 21-6 second-quarter run. Overall, the Gamecocks held the Longhorns to a mere 53.7 points per game on 33.3% shooting across the three meetings.
The first blow came back in January when South Carolina stormed to a 67-50 win in Columbia, holding Texas to just 15.4% shooting in a suffocating first quarter. Texas managed to bounce back at home in February with a narrow 66-62 win, thanks to hot shooting and a halftime lead--but it wasn't enough to change the momentum of the series.
The Longhorns will have to play their best game of the season
Now, with a Final Four berth on the line, the pressure's on. South Carolina has six players averaging at least 7.5 points in this series, showcasing their offensive depth. And with their defense firing on all cylinders, the Gamecocks are eyeing yet another step toward back-to-back national titles.
Texas may have the talent to keep it close--but they'll need their best game of the season to dethrone the queens of college hoops.