Led by South Carolina, UConn, women’s hoops to tip off today

NEW YORK — It’s been five years since a team other than UConn started the season as defending champions. Coach Dawn Staley and her South Carolina Gamecocks have that honor this year.

After a thrilling Final Four that ended with the Gamecocks winning their first national championship, women’s college basketball is ready to get started today.

South Carolina is among the teams looking to travel to Columbus, Ohio, for the Final Four next April. UConn, Stanford, Ohio State and Louisville will make the trip there this weekend to play a tipoff tournament at the site of the upcoming NCAA championship.

South Carolina returns only two starters this season, although one is star A’ja Wilson.

“I think when we first started practice we had a certain level of confidence and swagger,” Staley said. “But that team that won last year and the team that we have this year are very different. I made sure they were aware of that very quickly.”

Mississippi State ended the Huskies’ 111-game winning streak on a lastsecond shot in overtime of the NCAA semifinal game. With the longest winning streak in NCAA history behind them, UConn will aim for a fifth national championship in the past six seasons.

“I think what happened last season is exactly what needed to happen,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “Not because we need any extra motivation to win. I just think we need it to lift all the stuff we’ve been carrying around with us the last couple of years and just play free and clear and be like everybody

South Carolina’s A’ja Wilson (22) and her teammates last season after the Gamecocks’ first national championship.

else, and understand that losing is not the end of the world.”

The top-ranked Huskies return a talented group led by three preseason AP All-Americans. Auriemma has another group of talented newcomers as well.

Some things to watch this season in women’s basketball: File, Eric Gay / AP