The NCAA Tournament is known for its shocking upsets, especially with No. 16 seeds taking down top-ranked teams. But on Friday night, the South Carolina women’s basketball team made sure history wouldn’t be written at their expense—instead, they made history of their own. The No. 1 overall seed Gamecocks delivered a dominant performance, proving why they are the favorites to win it all.
Facing a determined No. 16 seed, South Carolina wasted no time asserting their dominance. From the opening tip, their suffocating defense and high-powered offense overwhelmed their opponent, quickly building a double-digit lead. By halftime, the Gamecocks had already set a tournament record for the largest first-half lead by a No. 1 seed in NCAA women’s tournament history.
Leading the charge was Aliyah Boston, who showcased her elite skills in the paint, racking up a double-double before the third quarter even started. Zia Cooke and Kamilla Cardoso added to the scoring barrage, ensuring the Gamecocks never lost control.
With this historic win, South Carolina sent a clear message: they are locked in and ready to claim another national championship. Head coach Dawn Staley praised her team’s focus, saying, “We respect every opponent, but we also know who we are. This was just the beginning of what we’re capable of.”
As the tournament progresses, South Carolina has its sights set on cutting down the nets. If their opening-round performance was any indication, they are more than ready for the challenge ahead.
