We Are The Champions Post Game Thread

[jaydee602]

Ashlynn Shade wasn't the same after that nasty fall vs. Oklahoma.
But her three pointer before the half was a pivotal moment in today's game. It gave UCONN a double digit lead at halftime & took some steam out of South Carolina's comeback.
And Ashlynn never lost her aggressive style, attacking rebounds & loose balls with a vengeance.

 

[Dove]

I'm telling you, that 1.1 level quake felt here in CT was no doubt caused by one of Dawn Staley's f-bombs.

C'mon, Dawn. Reel it in a bit. Jeeez.

 

[cp176]

I remember 30 years ago Rebecca walking into Gampel with that 1st national championship trophy and We Are the Champions blasting from the speakers. The years have slipped by quickly. I’ve grown old, lost family and friends but one constant has been the joy UConn Women’s Basketball has brought. Thank you Geno, CD and all the fine women that have been a part of this great program!

A very nice post. Thank you.

 

[DEFCONN1]

Now Arkansas St., South Dakota St., Oklahoma, Southern Cal, UCLA and South Carolina can now say they lost in the NCAA tournament to the greatest college program in Women’s Basketball history….UCONN !

 

[Floridaduck]

Congrats to Geno and UConn. Beautifully executed.

 

[Kaizen]

Congrats! This may not be the greatest UConn team, but this was most dominating Final Four team in history, knocking off two #1 teams in a smackdown fashion. Games were not even close.

Talk about playing D!

UConn beats three #1 teams, USC, UCLA and South Carolina.

 

[Huskie78]

Just returned home from a week in Arkansas.
Did I miss anything??

YiiiiiiiiiiHawwwwww!!!!
Go Huskies!!!!

No. 12 looks good on you!!

 

[Dove]

Dawn was pretty gracious in the post-game interview

Her sideline performance was bizarre. I'll try and find a video of her presser.

 

[my2cents]

Storrs CT, the absolute Basketball Capital of the World.
We will now have 18, yes, 18 National Championship Banners in our rafters.
Incredible

 

[PvP]

I'm with you Tonyc. A long wait. Pundits, co back over all my posts for this tournament and see where I predicted we would win EVERY game and we did beating 4 NO 1 teams. I have had faith in this team from day one and here we are. Were back and NOW WE ARE NO1..This game will be remembered for many years to come and be an inspiration for other teams.Congratulations to Geno,Chris and the rest of his staff. Congratulations to Paige and all the Huskies for a fantastic season and NO12.

We certainly didn't beat 4 #1 teams. In fact. It can't be done in a bracket system. South Carolina beat #1 Texas Friday.

 

[Dove]

Aw, man. My Minor Earthquake post was deleted. It was a good'n.

 

[HuskyNan]

When the streak ended in 2017, I didn’t think it would take UConn this long to win another title. There were some close losses and some tough ones, followed by the worst string of injuries I’ve seen from one program. It’s amazing they held things together so well.

I was in Knoxville in February and thought there was a lot of work to do. I was right, but mission accomplished. The first SC game showed me the UConn of old was back. I knew then the team was going all the way.

Congrats to the long suffering (mild sarcasm) fans on this board who keep it informative and interesting. A huge congrats to Paige who exercised several demons this year. I doubted more than once Fudd would ever be healthy enough to show us what she could do. Glad I was wrong on that one and my hope is she has a great final season.
Strong is the real deal and could be an all time great.

SC slipped after their remarkable season last year but they are still one of the top tier squads. There may be some changes this off season but they will be back in the hunt again. It was another fine season for Dawn and company.

Finally, congrats to Geno, the coaching staff, and team for their amazing year and NC. Enjoy these moments and remember them forever.

We will make a UConn fan of you yet

 

[Zanzman]

Aw, man. My Minor Earthquake post was deleted. It was a good'n.

No no it wasnt

 

[PvP]

Some thoughts on the South Carolina game:

• Most teams would be happy to win a national championship every 9 years or so. For UConn WBB it felt like an eternity, as the Huskies become the first team in WBB history to beat three #1 seeds, winning a record 12th championship.
• For the 2nd game in a row, Azzi started out fast, scoring early and often. In addition, she was huge picking Fulwiley’s pocket twice for breakaway layups. WHAT A GAME AZZI PLAYED TODAY!!!
• SC was crashing the boards in waves, something they did not do vs UConn in February. Sarah was a monster on the boards, often coming down with rebounds amongst swarms of Gamecocks. I will say it again. Sarah is the best rebounder ever to play at UConn, coming up HUGE with 15 rebounds in the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
• UConn’s Big 3 came up BIG, UConn’s defense was relentless and order has returned to the universe.
• KK and Ash both came up really big off the bench.
• Over the past 10-20 years there has been a proliferation of talented coaches in WBB. But Geno is still the GOAT, with the top staff in in the game. No one does a better job of getting the very best out of their team in March & April. When SC made a minnie run in the 3rd qtr, Geno called a timeout, went to the small lineup he had only used sparingly today, and it was GAME OVER.
• As Willie Shakespeare said, "Past is Prologue." A lot of pundits minimized UConn's 29 pt win at SC in February, insisting that this game would be much closer. Apparently not.
• I love this team for who they are and what they have achieved. Aubrey, Kaitlyn and Paige will be leaving UConn with a national championship along with our eternal gratitude and affection.
• A final comment on Paige’s extraordinary career. No player has faced and overcome more adversity before ultimately leading UConn to a championship. No one has ever deserved this victory today more than Paige. Watching Paige fall into Geno's arms in tears at the end of the game brought me, and I'm sure many others, to tears as well,
• In just 7 more months we can all strap in and watch UConn WBB go after #13. GO HUSKIES!!!

We are actually the FOURTH team in WBB history to best 3 #1 seeds, the most recent was Baylor , the first was Tennessee followed by Louisiana Tech.

 

[Ron and Vida]

Congrats UConn fans! The end to the title drought was always a when, not an if. We lost to a better team and if we had to lose, I’m glad to see Paige finally win the title after all she’s been through.

From our side, hell of a follow-up season for us! Got everything except the grand prize.

Thanks for setting the example
When the time comes I’ll try to be as generous

 

[msf22b]

I thought Dawn blew by Geno pretty fast during the handshake line, did not say a word, I don't think.

I think she understood...if you listen to her post-game remarks....
that Geno had the best cards...and that for SC to win, they would
have to execute at a very high level and hope that the Husky's didn't.
Perhaps (I have to watch the replay) our D was not quite as stifling in the 1st half as it had been throughout the tourney...But in the 2nd half it was relentless and SC
was forced into one-on-one and totally out of their planned "O."

 

[PvP]

For the entire tournament it was like a buzz saw through butter. Actually, it has been like that since we lost to Tennessee. There was no way this team was losing to anyone over the past 6 weeks!

 

[Magic32]

Thoroughly enjoyed not only this game, but the entire season. Watching this team gel and grow and have fun while doing it has been so fun.

On a different note I came to the realization that the cameras work just as hard to catch Staley angry/frustrated as they do for Hurley.

 

[HuskyNan]

Mount Rushmore coaches any sport college or pro: Geno Auriemma Cael Sanderson John Wooden Phil Jackson

Anson Dorrance

 

[Barkin Out]

• Bueckers will be missed. What a great young lady- and an amazing hooper.
• Extraordinary is the best way to describe Sarah’s tournament. I think people are beginning to look past her like”well, sure Strong got 20, 15, 5 and 5.” She is extraordinary
• Azzi was so brave today. Calmed her mind, played awesome D, and let shots come. She’s ready to take the torch and be the spokesperson for #13
• The Terror Twins did it again. Loved Ashlyn’s 3 and o- boards. And KK was nasty in the 2nd half!
• Dynasty in Columbia... yeah that talk may have to wait a few more years
• Our coaches had the Huskies mentally prepared - so important sine SCis a very good defensive team- with loads of fresh talent to challenge our shooters. We stayed focused and did not lose composure. Impressive.
• Winning never gets old.
• Never retire G&C. This is the best feeling

It’s 7pm here now. Time to rewatch

 

[Valleyfan]

What a dominant run! Incredible talent only surpasses by grit, willpower and tenacity. I’m always amazed at how well everyone plays together on this team. The defense was incredible all year. The offense was like an orchestra, with Paige as the maestro. Every time SC made a run, it was an Azzi steal, or Sarah block, or someone stepping up. I loved what Geno said after the game, sometime during the season the team fell in love with each other. Love this team, what a pleasant way to end the weekend! This is 3 years in a row that we’ve proved we are THE BASKETBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

 

[msf22b]

NY Post got it just about right...

UConn destroys South Carolina in shocking fashion to win first national championship since 2016

The Huskies regained their spot at college basketball’s mountain top for the first time since 2016. They also handed Dawn Staley her first loss in a national championship.

nypost.com

 

[Husk1esB2B]

Thank you for finishing the 3-peat job that Dan Hurley couldn't do it by himself Paige finally is a champ!

 

[Urshurak]

My wife and I both teared up on this. Not gonna lie!

 

[Ron and Vida]

Youthful exuberance

Nothing like it