From narrative and historical standpoints, the world of women’s basketball couldn’t possibly ask for a better championship draw. It’s Geno Auriemma versus Dawn Staley; Paige Bueckers trying to go out on top against the dynastic title defenders. UConn-South Carolina is the final game we deserve. Legacies will solidify and hoop dreams will actualize on Sunday afternoon.

How to watch South Carolina vs. Connecticut

• What: Women’s NCAA National Championship Game
• Venue: Amalie Arena — Tampa, Fla.
• Time: 3 p.m. ET, Sunday
• TV: ABC
• Streaming: Fubo (try for free)
• Watching in-person? Get tickets on StubHub.

Auriemma’s Huskies are one win away from their 12th national net cutting. They’ve won each of their tourney games by double digits: early round demolitions across the first weekend, an iconic Bueckers heat check against Oklahoma, then the Los Angeles gauntlet of USC and UCLA. UConn overwhelmingly claimed its Final Four fight versus the Bruins, 85-51, finishing at 55/44 percent shooting splits while forcing 19 turnovers. Bueckers had 16 points, Azzi Fudd scored 19 and Sarah Strong led the way with 22.

On the precipice of her college career, Bueckers has a lot to celebrate. She’s been the AP Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American, holder of both the Wooden and Naismith trophies, and has reached tremendous heights as a face of women’s hoops. Just one thing is missing: an NCAA championship. Her transcendent freshman season was spoiled by a 10-point loss to Arizona at the national semifinal. As a sophomore, she fell short of South Carolina in the title game. Bueckers redshirted after tearing her ACL in 2022, then fell on the wrong side of last year’s Final Four instant-classic with Caitlin Clark and Iowa.

It would be a defining achievement for the entire squad, of course. Auriemma would assert his eternal bonafides and get back to the mountaintop for the first time since 2016. Fudd would cap a triumphant return from an ACL tear of her own. Strong would seal an all-time great freshman campaign and set herself up as UConn’s next major star. Senior Kaitlyn Chen has forged a following since coming over from Princeton. First-year Jana El Alfy got to celebrate Friday’s win with her parents, who flew from Egypt to support their daughter. It’s a likable group with championship credentials.

So is South Carolina. The Gamecocks are unselfish, swaggering and resilient. They trailed both Maryland and Duke in the third quarters of the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, respectively, only to muscle out comebacks and slam the doors shut down the stretch. Staley has emerged as a titan of the sport, and the roster is loaded with balanced, complementary talents.

The reigning champs dispatched top-seeded Texas on Friday, a comfortable 74-57 cruise behind four double-digit scorers. Bree Hall and Te-Hina Paopao had 11 and 14, respectively, while Raven Johnson contributed six rebounds, three assists and three stocks (steals + blocks). Freshman Joyce Edwards did her usual damage off the bench, and sophomore Tessa Johnson drained a 3 and added 9 points with the second unit. The Gamecocks go eight players deep and have no shortage of lead options for any given matchup.

South Carolina’s defense is ferocious and disciplined, but it can also show some flashy perimeter punch when cornered. Creative passer and rangy shooter Paopao is WNBA-bound after this final game of eligibility, and fellow guard MiLaysia Fulwiley is a springy 5-foot-10 force with the ball in her hands. From front to back, they play with the boundless confidence of a team that’s lost six total games in the last four years.

Oddsmakers have the Huskies favored to win on Sunday, but the Gamecocks cannot be slept on in April. The hype is high for Sunday’s grand Madness.

This matchup can also be streamed on ESPN+.

South Carolina vs. Connecticut odds

Streaming and Betting/Odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

(Photo of Paige Bueckers and Bree Hall: Sean Rayford / Getty Images)