Breaking: Dawn Staley might just be haunted by UConn for the foreseeable future. After getting beaten by Geno Auriemma’s squad not once, but twice this season—including a dominant showing in the Final Four—it’s clear that the Huskies have cracked the code.

Breaking: Dawn Staley might just be haunted by UConn for the foreseeable future. After getting beaten by Geno Auriemma’s squad not once, but twice this season—including a dominant showing in the Final Four—it’s clear that the Huskies have cracked the code.

And the scariest part? It wasn’t even the full roster doing damage. Paige Bueckers was the centerpiece, no doubt, but Azzi Fudd and rising phenom Sarah Strong helped dismantle South Carolina like it was nothing. Three players. That’s all it took.

 

What’s worse for Staley is what’s ahead. Paige is off to the WNBA, but Fudd is still in town, and Sarah Strong is just getting started. Strong might be the most polished freshman to enter the college game since Bueckers herself. She’s already showing signs of being a two-way force who can stretch the floor and dominate the glass. UConn isn’t just back—they might be building another dynasty.

 

Meanwhile, South Carolina’s core is aging. The Gamecocks will be losing some of their senior leadership and possibly their interior presence, which has been their trademark. Without a surprise superstar freshman or a game-changing transfer, they could slip from the top of the mountain. And in today’s game, with NIL and the portal flipping rosters overnight, staying elite is harder than ever.

 

Dawn Staley is still one of the best to ever coach the game, and her program has earned the respect it gets. But UConn has the momentum now. Geno didn’t just win this year—he sent a message. The dynasty battle isn’t over, but for now, the pendulum has swung back to Storrs. If South Carolina can’t reload fast, they might find themselves chasing UConn again instead of leading the charge.