UConn and South Carolina will compete for the National Championship
USA TODAY’s Meghan Hall breaks down the upcoming matchup between the Gamecocks and the Huskies for the National Championship.
Sports Seriously
UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma on Sunday will go for his NCAA-record 12th national championship when the Huskies face defending champion South Carolina.
The Basketball Hall of Famer hasn’t won a title since 2016, but the Huskies are back thanks in part to superstar guard Paige Bueckers and myriad strong players such as Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong.
Auriemma, one of the preeminent representatives of women’s college basketball, has turned UConn into what it is today, taking over the program in 1985 when the Huskies only had one winning season ever under their belts.
A potential national championship would likely feel different for Auriemma, as he and UConn are currently on their longest championship drought since 1995, when Auriemma won his first title with the Huskies. The longest UConn went without a title since winning its first was five. Their current drought entering Sunday’s title game is nine seasons.
Here’s a look at Auriemma’s March Madness history, including his postseason record and championship wins:
Geno Auriemma March Madness history
The longer one looks at Auriemma’s full resume, the more impressive it gets. Here’s a list of his March Madness career record, appearances and championships:
As of the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season, Auriemma had led 36 appearances in the women’s NCAA Tournament, including every year since the 1998-99 season, when the Huskies lost in the first round. It was Auriemma’s first time leading a postseason berth for UConn after missing the tournament the three years prior.
Since then, Auriemma’s Huskies have never missed the women’s NCAA Tournament, not including the 2019-20 season when the tournament was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a first-round exit in the 1993 women’s NCAA Tournament, Auriemma’s team has never fared worse than a Sweet 16 berth in the tournament.
- March Madness appearances: 36 (1998-2019, 2021-25)
- March Madness record: 141-24
How many Final Fours does Geno Auriemma have?
Auriemma has been to an incredible 24 Final Fours over his career with UConn, out of 36 March Madness appearances.
- Final Four appearances: 24 (1991, 1995-96, 2000-04, 2008-19, 2021-22, 2024-25)
- Final Four record: 13-11
How many national championships does Geno Auriemma have?
- National championship appearances: 13 (1995, 2000, 2002-04, 2009-10, 2013-16, 2022, 2025)
- National championship record: 11-1
Auriemma has won 11 national championships, and is looking for his 12th on Sunday when UConn faces South Carolina.
Auriemma’s 11 national championships are the most by any coach in both men’s and women’s college basketball, ahead of UCLA’s John Wooden, who has 10.
Auriemma has a ridiculous 11-1 career record in national championship games, although his lone loss came at the hands of coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina in 2022.
Most national championships by coach in college basketball
Here’s the full leaderboard of all-time national championships among men’s and women’s college basketball coaches:
- 1. Geno Auriemma, UConn (11)
- 2. John Wooden, UCLA (10)
- 3. Pat Summitt, Tennessee (8)
- 4. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke (5)
- T-5. Kim Mulkey, Baylor and LSU (4)
- T-5. Adolph Rupp, Kentucky (4)
- T-7. Dawn Staley, South Carolina (3)
- T-7. Tara VanDerveer, Stanford (3)
- T-7. Jim Calhoun, UConn (3)
- T-7. Bob Knight, Indiana (3)
- T-7. Roy Williams, North Carolina and Kansas (3)
