Even without megastar JuJu Watkins, who suffered a torn ACL in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament, the University of Southern California put up a ferocious fight against the University of Connecticut in their Elite Eight match up on Monday night before succumbing 78–64. With the win, UConn secured another trip to tomorrow’s Final Four in Tampa, Florida, the 24th for head coach Geno Auriemma.
“We’ve got a whole lot of heart and a whole lot of toughness about us and we play together as a team,” said Paige Bueckers, who had 31 points, six assists and a team-high four steals. “I feel like every team that I’ve played on we’ve been super well connected, but … we’ve been through so much adversity as individuals, as a team, and it’s brought us together [and] made us stronger.”
Also of note in UConn securing a spot in pursuit of its 12th national championship, and its first since 2016, is the impact of guard Kaitlyn Chen. A graduate student who joined the Huskies after playing for and graduating from Princeton University last year, Chen had 15 points, including some crucial buckets in the fourth quarter. If three Ivy League teams making the tournament didn’t convince naysayers that the conference boasts high DI level talent, Chen’s success with the renowned Huskies should.
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“Honestly, I never thought I would make it to a Final Four, but here I am,” said Chen. “I feel like I relied on my teammates a lot throughout this whole process.”
UConn is the only No. 2 seed in the Final Four. The other three spots are held by No. 1 seeds: UCLA, the University of South Carolina and the University of Texas. UCLA defeated 2023 NCAA Champion Louisiana State University 72–65 to advance and will take on UConn tomorrow at 9 p.m. in the night’s second game. Bruins junior center Lauren Betts had 17 points and seven rebounds in their win.
South Carolina defeated Duke University 54–50 to punch its Final Four ticket in pursuit of its first back-to-back title. It was a tough game with no big scorers. Chloe Kitts led the Gamecocks with 14 points. Sania Feagin 12 points and eight rebounds. They will face Texas in the opening game at 7 p.m.
Texas downed TCU 58–47, pulling away only in the final minutes. Sophomore forward Madison Booker powered the offense with 18 points and six rebounds.
“I’m humbled, I’m grateful, I’m honored to be able to coach this group of young ladies,” said Texas’ head coach Vic Schaefer. “A team that, as you saw today, will absolutely play their guts out when challenged and knowing that that’s what it’s going to take.”