South Carolina star Ta’Niya Latson led the Gamecocks to a stunning victory over formerly-undefeated UConn on Friday night in the women’s college basketball Final Four.
Latson afterward declared this was the kind of moment that motivated her to transfer from Florida State last year despite a strong career with the Seminoles. Her strong play didn’t translate to winning at Florida State, so she joined perennial power South Carolina (36-3), winners of three national championships.
âIt means a lot,â Latson told reporters on Friday. âThis is why I came to South Carolina. It was a personal sacrifice that I had to make. I mean, I know a lot of people don’t get that, they don’t understand my why. I did. This is my why.â
Latson posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds against the Huskies (38-1) in a 62-48 victory, and her team will face UCLA for the national championship on Sunday night. The 5-foot-8 senior guard averages 14.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, as she has been a major part of the Gamecocks return to the title game for a second time three years.
“I’m just extremely blessed, blessed to have the teammates that I have, the coaches I have,” Latson said. “We got one more, so I’m excited.”
Ta’Niya Latson Downplays UConn Record
Latson didn’t want to get too caught up with UConn being 38-0 and boasting a team that could rival the greatest in the lore of Huskies women’s basketball.
âReally we just approached the game like any other game. We knew the stakes were high, playing in the Final Four against UConn, a very great team,â Latson said. âWe approached it like any other team. We had to play South Carolina basketball, and I think we did that today.â
South Carolina held the Huskies to 31% shooting and, most notably, 6-21 on three-point shooting. The Gamecocks also outrebounded the Huskies 47-32 and outscored UConn 34-20 in the paint.
UConn had the lead at halftime in a low-scoring 26-24 game, but the Gamecocks turned it around in the second half with 38 points. Latson said head coach Dawn Staley got them in line during halftime.
“Coach was pretty mad going into the half,” Latson said with a laugh. “She was yelling, Meet the moment, meet the moment. We couldn’t be scared to play on this stage, especially against UConn. They were undefeated.”
“But we had to keep fighting,” Latson added. “We were obviously down by two points and we were playing into their hands. In the locker room we talked about staying together, playing our game, getting defensive stops. I feel like we did that.”
Ta’Niya Latson Takes Raven Johnson Moment Personally
In 2023, South Carolina star Raven Johnson got ignored on offense by former Iowa star Caitlin Clark, and Johnson took play to heart in a 77-73 Final Four defeat.
Latson remembers seeing that on TV while still a player at FSU. Johnson has played the Gamecocks since, which included last year’s 82-59 loss to UConn in the Final Four.
“Around this time last year, I was packing up my house in Tallahassee, my apartment. I was watching the game,” Latson said. “Even though I wasn’t committed at the time, I was hurting for her. That was my sister.”
“Just to see her sad and cry on TV, I carried that hurt with me through the season,” Latson added. “It made me play for her and play for my teammates and my coaches.”
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