UConn guard Azzi Fudd (35) shoots in opposition to South Carolina ahead Sania Feagin (20) throughout the first half of the nationwide championship sport of the ladies’s NCAA faculty basketball match on Sunday in Tampa, Fla.

Chris O’Meara/AP

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Chris O’Meara/AP

TAMPA, Fla. — UConn is again on prime of girls’s basketball, successful its twelfth nationwide championship by routing defending champion South Carolina 82-59 on Sunday behind Azzi Fudd’s 24 factors.

Sarah Robust added 24 factors and 15 rebounds whereas Paige Bueckers had 17 factors in her last sport at UConn (37-3).

Bueckers capped her stellar profession with the Huskies’ first championship since 2016, ending a nine-year title drought for the group. That was longest for coach Geno Auriemma and his Huskies because the group gained its first championship in 1995 led by Rebecca Lobo.

Since then the Huskies have had dominant championship runs, together with within the early 2000s led by Sue Fowl and Diana Taurasi, 2009-10 with Maya Moore and at last the 4 straight from 2013-16 with Breanna Stewart. All had been in attendance in Florida on Sunday to see the Huskies’ newest title.

Lastly wholesome, the anticipated No. 1 choose within the WNBA draft on April 14, Bueckers delivered for the Huskies all through their championship season.

It was the one factor lacking from her unimaginable UConn profession that was slowed by accidents. She was the primary freshman to win AP Participant of the Yr earlier than lacking plenty of her sophomore season with a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear. She then tore an ACL earlier than the following season.

UConn closed the primary half up 10 factors after which put the sport away within the third quarter behind Fudd, Robust and Bueckers. The trio mixed for 23 of the group’s 26 factors within the quarter. UConn was up 50-39 with 3:21 left within the interval earlier than closing with a 12-3 run to place the sport away.

Fudd and Robust received it began with back-to-back 3s, and the rout was on. Auriemma subbed Bueckers, Fudd and Robust out with 1:32 left. Bueckers and Auriemma had an extended hug on the sideline, having lastly gotten that championship that he so wished for her.

Daybreak Staley’s group was attempting for a 3rd title in 4 years and fourth total. It could have tied her with Kim Mulkey for third most behind Auriemma and former Tennessee Corridor of Fame coach Pat Summitt, who had eight.

UConn had reached the title sport solely as soon as throughout its drought since 2016. The Huskies had been eradicated by heartbreaking last-second losses within the Ultimate 4 on buzzer-beaters. The Huskies’ final title sport look got here in 2022 when Staley’s group beat UConn to begin the Gamecocks’ present run of success, a sport that ended Auriemma’s good report in title video games.

There appeared to be no nerves early for both group as the sport received off to a quick begin. The groups traded baskets for the primary jiffy earlier than the defenses began to clamp down. The Huskies led 19-14 after one quarter after which prolonged the benefit to 36-26 on the half. Fudd had 13 factors and Robust added eight factors and 11 rebounds.