UConn Women’s Basketball Poised for Final Four Clash Against UCLA

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The UConn women’s basketball team returns to the Final Four on Friday night to face UCLA, a decade after their last appearance. The matchup, set for 9:30 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena, features the second-seeded Huskies against the top-seeded Bruins.

The Huskies (35-3) advanced to this stage after defeating USC 78-64 in the Elite Eight. Star senior guard Paige Bueckers led UConn with 31 points and six assists, earning Spokane Region MVP honors. Freshman Sarah Strong contributed significantly with a career-high 22 points and 17 rebounds.

“There’s a way that you win these games, and generally, they come from one or two players stepping up to lead the team,” said head coach Geno Auriemma during the postgame press conference.

UConn’s Final Four appearance is their 24th, marking an extraordinary feat as they pursue a 12th national championship. This season is notable, as it is Auriemma’s 16th Final Four in the last 17 years.

The last time UConn won the national championship was in 2016 when they defeated Syracuse 82-51.

Standing in their way is UCLA’s Lauren Betts, a 6-foot-7 center who has averaged 20 points per game in her junior season. Betts scored 17 points and collected seven rebounds in their Elite Eight victory over LSU.

UCLA (34-2), which enters this game on a strong note, has also shown formidable depth throughout the tournament. Their last win came against LSU, where they secured a 72-65 victory.

UConn possesses an edge going into the game. The Huskies are favored by 7.5 points, in part due to their recent performance. They have displayed strong rebounding and defensive metrics, allowing them to maintain an offensive presence.

UCLA, in their last five games, struggled with defensive rebounding, averaging only 65% efficiency on that front, which could be a crucial factor in this matchup.

The matchup is one of two semifinals set for Friday night. The other features South Carolina against Texas at 7 p.m. ET. Both games will be aired live on ESPN.

As the game approaches, anticipation builds among fans and players alike. UConn’s pursuit of their 12th national title adds a layer of intensity to the competition.