It is finally here, the NCAAW Tournament game, featuring South Carolina vs UCLA — which team holds the advantage?

South Carolina vs UCLA. Dawn Staley vs Cori Close. Raven Johnson vs Lauren Betts. Predicting the X-factor in a game of this magnitude, possessing such a high level of talent, is nigh on impossible.

Both head coaches have created a legacy with each particular programme, and now, they will face off in the biggest game in college basketball.

After the turbulent end to South Carolina’s fierce 62-48 victory over UCLA — which saw Geno Auriemma resemble a seven-year-old child who had just lost a five-hour chess game to his little sister — Dawn Staley will be desperate to ensure that her team sees through the relentless task of lifting the trophy.

However, this is no easy task. This is a UCLA team that has its own abundance of talent, which on any given night could dismantle any level of opponent who stands before them.

Lauren Betts must be at her best to defeat the Gamecocks

Kiki Rice and Gianna Kneepkens are key cogs in Cori Close’s offensive system; however, what Lauren Betts can do on both sides of the ball holds the key for UCLA to etch their name on the NCAA Tournament trophy.

After losing the mantle of the projected number one overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Betts has an opportunity to silence her critics after a slow start to her regular-season campaign.

Injuries hindered the UCLA star’s senior year, but she was still having an effect on both ends of the court for her team. Her presence on the interior is simply phenomenal, and few defenders or attackers have discovered a way to contain her physical style of play.

Throughout the course of the season, Betts has averaged 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, while shooting 58.2% from the floor.

Betts must continue to find consistency in her performances after recording 16 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks in UCLA’s 51-44 Final Four victory over Texas.

If the 22-year-old can deliver on the biggest stage for her team, UCLA could clinch its first-ever NCAA Tournament title.

South Carolina will head into the fixture as favourites

Dawn Staley has transformed South Carolina into one of the country’s elite programmes throughout her 17-year tenure as head coach — winning three National Championships during this period.

Building a winning culture makes recruitment easier and attracts the top talent. However, the Gamecocks are more than that under their current guise. Without a true standout star, this roster shares both offensive and defensive duties, creating a tactic that is difficult to contain.

Raven Johnson, Tessa Johnson, Joyce Edwards, and Madina Okot are just four of the names that make this team so special.

Usually, the two names highlighted to carry this team to victory would be both Raven and Tessa Johnson. They embody the exact athlete that Dawn Staley requires to win championships. Tough, relentless, and of course, talented.

Nevertheless, given that Lauren Betts is such a difficult customer on the interior, South Carolina’s center, Madina Okot, will have to be at her special best to ensure the championship comes home to the SEC programme.

Also in her senior year, Okot has averaged 13 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.7 steals per game, while shooting 58.1% from the floor.

Okot is an undervalued prospect in the WNBA draft, expected to be selected in the later reaches of the first-round. Yet, her physical and defensive attributes make her the perfect selection for any franchise looking for a defensive anchor.

The 21-year-old is the standout candidate to elevate the Gamecocks to a different level during the NCAA Tournament championship trophy.

Predicted winner: South Carolina

MVP: Madina Okot (South Carolina)