#1 South Carolina (33-2) vs #1 Louisville (27-4) – National Semifinal

The power programs of women’s basketball served notice this weekend that Cinderellas are no longer welcome at the dance. South Carolina dispatched #10 seed Creighton 80-50 to reach their fourth Final Four. Louisville clamped down on Michigan in the fourth quarter to punch their ticket to Minneapolis.

• South Carolina 
  National Titles: 1 (2017)
  Final Four appearances: 4
  Scoring offense: 71.1 (56th nationally)
  Scoring defense: 50.5 (3rd nationally)
• Louisville 
  National Titles: 0 (runner-up in 2009 and 2013)
  Final Four appearances: 4
  Scoring offense: 72.5 (37th nationally)
  Scoring defense: 55.3 (18th nationally)

You’ll know South Carolina is playing well if…

…the Gamecocks defense is clamping down on shooters, forcing contested shots and dominating the boards. South Carolina leads the nation in field goal percentage defense (32.7 percent) and a rebound margin of 17.9 boards per game.

…junior Aliyah Boston is getting inside touches on every possession, freeing up teammates for open looks. Boston, one of two Naismith Player of the Year candidates in the Final Four, shoots 54.2 percent from the floor and averages a double-double with 16.9 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.

You’ll know Louisville is playing well if…

… sophomore guard Hailey Van Lith is hitting shots, and distributing the ball effectively. Despite standing at just 5-7, Van Lith leads the Cardinals in scoring at 14.6 points per game.

… the three-pointers are falling early and often. Louisville hits 35.9 percent from the three-point line which ranks in the top 20 nationally. Seniors Kianna Smith and Emily Engstler will need to score from the arc to neutralize South Carolina’s inside advantage.

Hailey Van Lith is going off! 🏀#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/zIuLokhUOM

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 29, 2022

Prediction – Louisville’s hopes for their first national title will have to wait for at least one more year. South Carolina’s dominant defense will hold Van Lith and the Cards under their 45.6 field goal percentage, and the Gamecocks rebounding will limit second chance opportunities. Boston will be challenged by Louisville’s bigs, but she’ll get her points and rebounds. South Carolina 68, Louisville 59.

#1 Stanford (32-3) vs #2 UConn (29-5) – National Semifinal

There’s nothing but heavyweights in the second semifinal in Minneapolis, led by legendary coaches Tara VanDerveer of Stanford and Geno Auriemma of UConn. Stanford battled through a tough Spokane Regional, topping Texas 59-50 in the championship game. Meanwhile, UConn survived an epic double-overtime with North Carolina State, rallying back for an 91-87 win after the Wolfpack forced a second overtime at the buzzer.

Brown-Turner is NOT READY TO QUIT!#MarchMadness x @PackWomensBball pic.twitter.com/ULbZ9rwWs5

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 29, 2022

• Stanford 
  National Titles: 3 (1990, 1992, 2021)
  Final Four appearances: 15
  Scoring offense: 73.9 (27th nationally)
  Scoring defense: 56.6 (36th nationally)
• UConn 
  National Titles: 11 (1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
  Final Four appearances: 22
  Scoring offense: 74.8 (22nd nationally)
  Scoring defense: 54.6 (14th nationally)

You’ll know Stanford is playing well if…

…they are limiting UConn’s easy baskets and blocking shots on defense. Stanford ranks fourth in the nation in blocked shots, led by sophomore Cameron Brink at 2.62 per game.

…Naismith Player of the Year finalist Haley Jones is distributing the ball to open shooters, and getting to the free throw line. Jones leads the team with 118 assists, and shoots 82.4 percent from the free throw line.

You’ll know UConn is playing well if…

…reigning Naismith Player of the Year Paige Bueckers is feeling her stroke off the dribble. Bueckers was deadly in the second half and overtimes against North Carolina State going 8-for-9 from the field, mostly on her mid-range pull-up jumper.

…good ball movement leads to open shots for all the Huskies. UConn averages 18.1 assists per game and is the second-best shooting team in the nation at 48.2 percent.

“I said win or go home and I am still going home… THIS IS CRAZY!”
– @paigebueckers1 #MarchMadness x @UConnWBB pic.twitter.com/MGjeGMR1UW

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 29, 2022

Prediction – The reports of UConn’s demise may have been premature. Since the return of Bueckers to the lineup, she and the Huskies have only gotten better each game. Stanford will effectively game plan for Bueckers, but the Huskies’ depth of scoring will win out in the end. It’s hard to pick against Stanford who has won 24 straight games, but everyone in the Final Four is good. UConn 70, Stanford 68.

National Championship game prediction…

Much like their semifinal game, this final would pit UConn’s balanced offense against South Carolina’s dominant defense. The difference maker is the Gamecocks’ Aliyah Boston. UConn may be able to play South Carolina to a draw when they are on offense, but Boston’s presence inside on the South Carolina end of the floor will be enough to push the Gamecocks to their second national title. Prediction: South Carolina 64, UConn 61.