South Carolina vs. UCLA prediction: 2026 Womens national championship picks, odds, best bet for Sunday

We anticipated a highly competitive Women’s Final Four this year, as for the second straight season, all four No.1 seeds made it to the final weekend. A pair of newcomers in UCLA and Texas met with the Bruins prevailing, but the game that drew the most attention was a rematch of last season’s championship between UConn and South Carolina. The Huskies thoroughly outperformed Carolina, winning decisively with a score of 82-59 as Geno Auriemma landed his 12th national title win in 2025.Well, revenge is a dish best served cold, and South Carolina got just that in Friday’s 62-48 upset victory over top-seeded UConn. Dawn Staley’s ball club triumphed over the consensus pick for title winner in the semifinal behind a masterclass defensive effort. Now, standing in the way of the SEC powerhouses’ path to redemption is UCLA’s frontcourt juggernaut, Lauren Betts, and a Bruins team making their first-ever championship game in program history.South Carolina enters 3.5-point favorites, with the Over/Under set at 129.5 total points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

 The Gamecocks were on our radar when it came time for early tourney predictions and for good reason.Now they are embarking on their third national title in five seasons. They are coming off arguably their best defensive game in the Staley era, holding UConn to just 48 points on 31 percent shooting, 38 points below their per-game average of 86.8. It was a miserable night for All-Americans Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd.

The key pair struggled immensely, combining for only 20 points after shooting a terrible 7-for-31 from the field as South Carolina forced them into difficult looks all night long.The Gamecocks’ rebounding dominance was also a major factor, as they outrebounded UConn 47-32, with key contributions from Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot.Florida State transfer Ta’Niya Latson led all scorers with 16 points and added eleven rebounds.In order to keep Betts from taking over, Staley is going to nee...