In an exciting finish to the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, the UConn Huskies defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 82-59 to win their 12th national championship. UConn controlled the game from the start, using a strong defense that held South Carolina to just 26 points in the first half. Azzi Fudd played an incredible game, scoring 24 points and earning the Most Outstanding Player award. Paige Bueckers, who was playing in her final game for UConn, also scored 17 points, making history by becoming the Huskies’ all-time leading scorer in NCAA tournament play, surpassing Maya Moore.

The game was a big win for UConn, as it marked their first national championship since 2016. Their dominant performance took down the reigning champions, South Carolina, who had been on a hot streak, including a 71-game home winning streak earlier in the season. Despite the loss, South Carolina showed a lot of heart throughout the tournament, and their season was still one to be proud of. The Huskies’ victory was a team effort, but Fudd and Bueckers led the way with their outstanding play.

This national championship game also broke viewership records, with 8.5 million people tuning in to watch, making it the third-most-watched women’s basketball championship game in history. The game was a perfect example of how much women’s sports have grown in popularity. Overall, it was a thrilling final that showcased the skill and determination of both teams, but in the end, UConn’s defense and star players were too much for South Carolina to handle.