Live from Phoenix, host Howard Megdal is joined by Kathleen Gier for The IX Basketball’s breakdown of UCLA crushing South Carolina 79-51 to win the Bruins’ first-ever NCAA women’s basketball national championship.
First, Megdal and Gier break down how the Bruins thoroughly dominated the game in all facets, but especially on the glass. UCLA out-rebounded South Carolina by 12, a stat that stunned the Gamecocks when informed after the game.
“Somebody asked Dawn and the players about this after the game, and the players are saying, ‘They have rebounded us by how much?'” Megdal said. “Dawn didn’t even look down. She goes, ‘By 12,’ with a wry smile on her face, as if to say, ‘Alright, they got the better of us on the boards.’ I’ve covered a lot of South Carolina teams for a long time. You do not see South Carolina get manhandled on the boards like they just did.”
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The two also took a moment to highlight Final Four Most Outstanding Player Lauren Betts, who notched two double-doubles during the Final Four and also was the unquestioned leader of this team. They also touched on Betts’ WNBA potential before getting to UCLA head coach Cori Close.
“She took this with so much pride, but not even for herself, for the program, and for these kids, what they’ve been able to do, and then constantly bringing up the history of the program and making sure that that’s not left out,” Gier said. “I think that that says so much. And also the other coaches this weekend have spoken so highly of her, and I think maybe they’re a little proud too.”
Megdal and Gier also broke down what the loss means for South Carolina, especially as several key players prepare to exit the program. And while the Gamecocks had another incredible season to get to this game, it was clear what they were missing on Sunday compared to their past title-winning teams.
“The truth is, on a day like this, South Carolina needed an Aliyah Boston or an A’ja Wilson, they didn’t have that,” Megdal said. “Lauren Betts was the best big on the floor, and it showed all night.”
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Still, both praised South Carolina coach Dawn Staley for how she handled the weekend in the spotlight and how she elevated the sport in the midst of a controversy that wasn’t brought on by her. But in the end, the Bruins won their first national title since they took home the AIAW championship in 1978.
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