South Carolina’s excellence is worth celebrating despite title game loss

It was about holding on just a little longer to a historic senior class that had given her everything and enhanced a legacy. The South Carolina head women’s basketball coach wasn’t ready to let go — and maybe, at that moment, neither was the Gamecocks. She savored every second of that huddle.

Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.

Unfortunately, at 5:02 p.m. Eastern Time, reality set in. There would be no repeat. Following the timeout, Staley removed a teary-eyed Bree Hall, Sania Feagin and Raven Johnson for the final time with 4:01 remaining, signaling the approaching end of an 82-59 setback to Connecticut in the national championship at sold-out Amalie Arena Sunday.

The trio was the No. 1 ranked signing class in 2021, posted a remarkable 144-7 record during their careers. Both the total wins and the .954 winning percentage are the best four-year marks in program history.

Staley embraced each player tightly, patting them on the back as they took their seats. Her emotions were raw as the realization set in that South Carolina wouldn’t repeat. Moments later, she acknowledged UConn’s performance, which led to the iconic program’s 12th national title.

“Here’s where I must say that much respect to UConn,” Staley told reporters during her opening statement. “They did a masterful job executing on both sides of the basketball. At the same time, I have to say goodbye to a senior class that had a historical impact on our game, program, conference, city, and state. Although they won’t be in our huddle anymore, I’m sure they’ll find their way into another huddle at the next level. And I want to show my gratitude for all they’ve done for our program because they elevated us and took us to a place where we could only imagine.”

Order ‘Becoming Caitlin Clark’ and save 30%

Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, just announced his latest book. It captures both the historic nature of Caitlin Clark’s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible. Interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and so many others were vital to the process.

If you enjoy his coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love “Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar.” Click the link below to preorder and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.

Preorder “Becoming Caitlin Clark”

In the last 10 years, no program in the country has been better. South Carolina will not be judged by one tough afternoon against a program playing at a high level that executed superbly on both ends of the floor. This was South Carolina’s fifth consecutive Final Four – one of three programs in women’s basketball history – along with Connecticut and Stanford. Hall, Johnson, and Feagin played in three national championships, winning two of them.

“I am super-duper blessed,” Hall told reporters about her South Carolina career. “So many people would dream of being in a situation like the one I have been in for the last four years. I’ve only lost a handful of games, won two national championships, and made it to the Final Four four times. I can’t express how appreciative I am of this program, Coach Staley, the team, and the things they’ve done for me. It’s just been incredible.

“And I don’t really know if I can say how I feel about it right now, but I will say that I am just thrilled and so excited for what this team in this program has moving forward.”

While this loss will sting for a long time and provide additional motivation during summer workouts, the Gamecocks kept their eyes on the bigger picture. Staley waved to the South Carolina fans on her way into the tunnel after the postgame handshake. Even though the Gamecocks exited the arena disappointed, sad, and with moist eyes, they could walk tall and hold their heads high, knowing they had raised the bar of excellence for the program.

It’s never easy to end a brilliant season, but the players were confident and proud in a subdued locker room, knowing this was a bump in the road. Tessa Johnson munched on fruit snacks after answering reporters’ questions.

The Gamecocks expressed pride in their team’s perseverance, accomplishments, and legacy. Throughout the season, they displayed a resilient spirit and consistently overcame adversity to be one of the final two teams remaining. Throughout South Carolina’s extended run of excellence, the foundation of their success has been a combination of faith and lessons learned in leadership.

“I’m so proud of my team even though we came up short today,” South Carolina senior guard Te-Hina Paopao told reporters in the locker room as she had a white towel around her neck. “Although we didn’t want to finish on a loss this year, we still were able to compete at a high level and get back to where we were last year, but it was just a different story this time. The reason why I came here to South Carolina is to compete and win. That’s what we did last year; unfortunately, we came up short this year.

“I’m always going to cheer on my Gamecocks. They’re going to be back next year. They have to keep pushing, fighting, and holding their head up high.”

Your business can reach over 3 million women’s sports fans every single month!

Here at The Next and The IX, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women’s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, reach out to our team at editors@thenexthoops.com to discuss ways to work together.

South Carolina’s rise to prominence was saturated with superstars, each carrying their own compelling stories of dedication, sacrifice, and relentless pursuit of perfection. Yet what truly defined them beyond raw talent was the pride they took in their struggles and competing for Staley, the seventh head coach to bring a team to the final game of the season at least four times in their career. She has been a positive ambassador for lifting the sport of women’s basketball.

Over the last decade, South Carolina has enjoyed eight 30-win seasons. The Gamecocks have played in seven Final Fours in the last 10 NCAA Tournaments, including the last five, with national championships in 2017, 2022 and 2024. They have been ranked in every AP poll since Dec. 10, 2012, including a top-10 spot every week since the start of the 2019-20 season. The Gamecocks’ 86 AP No. 1 rankings all time are the third-most by a program in the history of that poll. South Carolina is one of two programs in NCAA history to put together multiple 40-game win streaks.

Consistency is something to be appreciated. Staley’s seniors were at the heart of that success.

“I’m one that I give them their flowers all the time,” Staley told reporters. “Giving them their last flowers of just being in the locker room. It’s holding your head up high. There’s no other college — women’s college basketball athlete that experienced what they’ve experienced, won as much as they’ve won — and that’s championships and games.”

Add Locked On Women’s Basketball to your daily routine

Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.

Another attribute that’s made South Carolina special is its ability to hold each other accountable and not make excuses.

“Our kids gave it all they had,” Staley said. “When you can understand why you lost — and when you’ve been on the other side of that three times, you understand it. You can swallow it. We lost to a very, very good basketball team. That they beat our ass, but they didn’t make us like it. There’s a difference. … Our ball-screen coverage was not great in the third and fourth quarters as much as it was in the first two quarters. So, they got loose with that. But I just tried to get our team to hone in on making shots because to beat UConn, you’ve got to score the basketball.”

South Carolina struggled with scoring consistently after taking an early 11-8 lead following a Chloe Kitts jumper with 5:59 remaining, capping a sizzling start in which the Gamecocks made five of their first seven shots. They shot 16-for-54 (29.6%) over the remaining 36 minutes and scored 48 points.

It didn’t help that South Carolina had a 3:59 scoreless stretch in the first quarter and a 4:23 scoring drought in the second quarter. Yet, the Gamecocks trailed by 10 at intermission and had to like their chances of rallying. Unfortunately, Azzi Fudd scored 11 of her team-high tying 24 points in the third quarter as UConn doubled its halftime advantage to 62-42 entering the fourth quarter.

Tessa Johnson and Joyce Edwards led South Carolina with 10 points each, while MiLaysia Fulwiley and Chloe Kitts added nine points each. All four players are expected to return next season for the Gamecocks. The winning won’t stop.

After a few minutes to compose herself, Raven Johnson spoke to the media and took the loss hard. She led the Gamecocks with seven rebounds. She’s wired to win. Johnson has an option to return next season and has 48 hours to decide. When asked by a reporter postgame, she was non-committal, politely stating, “I have, but I can’t announce it.”

She left the door open a few minutes later when she said today’s result could affect her decision.

“I’m honestly hard on myself,” Johnson said. “I feel like I want to win so badly today, and I feel like I fell short. I’m looking at blaming myself a little bit. It’s just things like that: I’m so hard on myself and expect nothing but to win. And that’s just how competitive I am. Waking off the court, I was hurt. I was heartbroken and embarrassed. This hurts my heart because I feel like yesterday I came in with these girls, and now we’re about to go our separate ways.”

The Next, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom

The Next: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.

They leave so many wonderful memories. South Carolina captivated crowds with electrifying performances. As each moment of greatness unfolded during the last four years, fans felt deeply connected to the triumphs and watched in awe and admiration, moved by the humanity and beauty.

When fatigue and vulnerability tested the Gamecocks’ very limits and they appeared mortal at times this season, weary and worn, they found a way to return to the national championship for the third time in three years.

“Losing always hurts,” Hall said. “It does … My tears were because I was going to miss my girls. I love these girls to death, literally to death, and I am very just appreciative of just everything that they have done for me, on and off the court … I am so blessed and happy with my career.”

The Gamecocks lifted each other through their selfless spirit and unity, a poignant testament to individual willpower harmonized with championship grace. Their standard of excellence—rooted in unbreakable emotional bonds and relentless heart—never wavered. Forever etched in history, these Gamecocks will be remembered not merely for highlights or victories but for the courage, compassion, and grace they showed in overcoming every challenge and elevating women’s basketball.

“They’re just great human beings,” Staley told reporters about her seniors. “They’ve allowed me to coach them, being my uncensored self. Not a lot of coaches are able just to be who they are. I could have real conversations with them that might hurt other people’s feelings. They allow me to be me because they know I’m just coming to them from wanting them to get better, wanting them to continue their winning ways and preparing them for the next level … They’re winners.”

Order ‘Rare Gems’ and save 30%

Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The Next and The IX, released his latest book on May 7, 2024. This deeply reported story follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.

If you enjoy his coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.” Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.