WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY

Battle in the post: Aliyah Boston, the unanimous national player of the year, leads the Gamecocks with 17.0 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-5 junior is the biggest post threat in the nation this year, shown in her 29 double-doubles. With Dorka Juhász out, the Huskies are relying on Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Aaliyah Edwards to carry the weight under the basket and slow down Boston. The two dealt with foul trouble against Stanford on Friday as both had two fouls by halftime, and Nelson-Ododa was called for her fourth with under four minutes left.

What’s on the line: Neither UConn (11-0) nor South Carolina (1-0) have lost in the national championship game, although the Huskies have played in 10 more title games. The Huskies are tied with UCLA men’s basketball for an NCAA-record 11 national titles — one more and they’d take ownership of the record. UConn basketball (both the men’s and women’s teams) have never lost a national championship game, owning a combined 15-0 record.

Scouting the Gamecocks:

Top-ranked South Carolina defeated No. 1 Louisville 72-59 behind Boston’s 23 points and 18 rebounds to advance to Sunday’s championship. The Gamecocks held the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 Poll all season long and only lost twice before the NCAA Tournament. Coached by Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks have to beat UConn coach Geno Auriemma’s Huskies in the NCAA Tournament. The two last met in March Madness in the 2018 Elite Eight in Albany, NY., with UConn winning 94-65. UConn leads the all-time series 9-2.