Overview
- The title game tips at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on ABC and ESPN with Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe on the call.
- South Carolina reached the final by beating UConn 62-48 on Friday, ending the Huskies’ 54-game winning streak, while UCLA advanced by holding Texas to 44 points behind Lauren Betts’ 16.
- The Gamecocks seek a fourth national championship since 2017 as the Bruins play their first NCAA title game, with South Carolina at 36-3 and UCLA at 36-1.
- Sportsbooks list South Carolina as about a 3.5-point favorite with a moneyline near -185 and a total around 128 to 130 points.
- Key matchup factors include South Carolina’s pressure defense and depth against 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts’ interior presence for UCLA, the turnover battle after UCLA’s 23 giveaways versus Texas, and a coaching history that favors Staley 4-1 over Close.