Tampa, Fla (WFLA) — It’s a battle you won’t want to miss, South Carolina trying to be back-to-back National Champions, and the UCONN Huskies hoping to shut them out.
UCONN Coach Geno Auriemma Saturday spoke on what it will take for them to win the game.
“Just showing up isn’t going to get it done for you. You have to come to this particular game feeling like you have your bases covered, and then at the same time you have to play exceptionally well,” said Auriemma.
The two teams have met before, but this stage will require more from both. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley talked about how her team will play better than they did a month and a half ago.
“I think the fuel is to win another national championship. That’s where the fuel comes in. The challenge is great. They’re playing great basketball. It’s beautiful to watch. It’s cringe-worthy to be their opponent,” said Staley.
UCONN’s Paige Bueckers said she respects the Gamecocks and is looking to build from their last meeting.
“Obviously we feel like they’ll have a chip on their shoulder from the last time we played, but at this point in the season nothing that we did prior matters and we shouldn’t need any extra motivation, it’s a national championship game so the record is 0-0,” said Bueckers.
Sunday will be South Carolina’s Bree Hall’s second time in the National Championship with the team. She told reporters there’s so much on the line.
“This is a huge game for us. We’re talking in practice on what we need to do in film, we’re asking tons of questions just to make sure we’re all staying on the right track and staying on the same page. But I mean the biggest thing that we have been saying is that we believe,” said Hall.
Both teams expressed an appreciation for their fans traveling to support them and for Tampa hosting the tournament again.
“The turnout, the people you see walking the streets of Tampa, all here to support women’s basketball,” said Beuckers. “The turnout yesterday was amazing. It was an amazing atmosphere, a great environment for women’s basketball.”
Tip-off for the National Championship game is Sunday at 3.
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