For the first time since 2013–14, there’s no UConn vs. South Carolina showdown on the schedule. The matchup that’s been the crown jewel of women’s college basketball for the past decade won’t be happening…. at least not in the regular season. So when the schedules dropped and that game was nowhere to be found, the internet did what it does best: it started spreading rumors about Dawn Staley ducking the matchup after last season’s 23-point loss in the national championship game. But the Gamecocks head coach had the perfect response for all the chatter after it was announced that these two powerhouse programs will face off again next year in the regular season.

In a clip shared by reporter Chaz Frazier, Dawn Staley addressed the accusations that South Carolina was “ducking” UConn this season. She made her stance clear, saying: “It is important. We’ve been accused of ducking and all of that crap. Like, come on, we’ve played UConn for the past, I don’t know, 11 seasons. Now is the time to duck? We could have ducked seven, eight, nine years ago.”

Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies and Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks have created one of the fiercest rivalries in college basketball. Between them, they’ve claimed eight of the last 12 national championships, a run of dominance that’s defined the sport for over a decade. Since the 2014–15 season, these two giants have faced off 14 times, including some unforgettable clashes in March Madness. UConn currently leads the head-to-head series 9–5.

The “ducking” talk started after South Carolina lost both of its matchups to UConn last season. First, an 87–58 blowout at home in Columbia, then the national championship game, 82–59. But despite what fans suggested, those losses weren’t why the matchup didn’t happen this season.

Staley continued, saying: “No, it just so happened that they had more games scheduled in their conference, so it was hard to continue the home-and-home. But we were going to find a way to play. Unfortunately for us, it’s in the Hall of Fame event. So it’s great competition for us and for women’s basketball.”

As we mentioned yesterday, the real reason this matchup didn’t happen this season is because the Big East switched back to a 20-game, full round-robin conference schedule for the first time since 2022–23. In the past two seasons, teams only played 18 conference games, which left UConn room to schedule high-profile non-conference games like South Carolina.

To make the matchup possible, the game was shifted from its traditional February slot to November, when both teams have more flexibility in their schedules. A smart solution but one that comes with a downside for UConn. The Huskies usually count on facing top-tier opponents like South Carolina during Big East play to stay battle-tested heading into March. With the expanded conference schedule, those high-caliber midseason tests won’t be as easy to squeeze in anymore.

That said, both programs have started their seasons with wins, so now let’s see what lies ahead for them.

What’s next for Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma?

Both Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma kicked off the season in style. South Carolina steamrolled Grand Canyon 94–54, while UConn started the post-Paige Bueckers era strong with a 79–66 win over No. 20 Louisville. And now? Both teams are staring down some intriguing matchups ahead.

It looks like another smooth ride for the Gamecocks. They’ll take on the Bowling Green Falcons, a Mid-American Conference team, in their next matchup. According to ESPN, South Carolina has a 99% chance of winning. So, don’t be surprised if Dawn Staley and her team cruise to another 40-point victory.

For Geno Auriemma and the Huskies, things get a bit trickier — but still very winnable. Their next matchup is against the Florida State Seminoles, an ACC team, and it’ll take place on UConn’s home court. ESPN gives the Huskies a 96.2% chance to take the win, but with ACC competition coming to town, don’t expect it to be a walk in the park.