On December 23, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb received a text message from UConn coach Geno Auriemma, just two days after USC secured a narrow two-point victory over UConn in Hartford an impressive accomplishment.
Recalling the moment, Gottlieb shared that she had been at a Christmas gathering when Auriemma messaged her, acknowledging USC’s big win and expressing his admiration for her team. He also mentioned hoping they would meet again in Tampa, the site of the Final Four.
Gottlieb appreciated Auriemma’s graciousness, noting that it takes confidence to recognize an opponent’s success. While she acknowledged the disappointment of USC’s later loss, she also respected the resilience of her team, which battled through injuries throughout the season.
USC and UConn did indeed face off again, this time in Spokane during the Elite Eight. UConn, a powerhouse with 24 Final Four appearances in the past 17 years, emerged victorious with a 78-64 win. The game was significantly impacted by the absence of USC’s star player, JuJu Watkins, who suffered an ACL injury a week earlier. UConn was led by Paige Bueckers, who scored 31 points, and freshman Sarah Strong, who contributed 22 points and 17 rebounds.
Auriemma acknowledged USC’s effort, praising their fight despite adversity. He noted that losing a key player like Watkins was a challenge, comparing her impact to that of UConn’s own star, Bueckers. Even when UConn led by 19 points, USC fought back, cutting the deficit to six.
Looking ahead, UConn is set to face UCLA in the Final Four on Friday night in Tampa. While Gottlieb refrained from making a bold prediction, she anticipated a high-scoring, competitive matchup.
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