South Carolina becomes 10th school to send men's and women's teams to Final Four in same year
For the 13th time in NCAA history, a school will send both its men’s and women’s teams to the Final Four.
The top-seeded South Carolina women’s basketball team beat Florida State 71-64 Monday night, punching its ticket to Dallas and joining the men’s side in the Final Four. And, while Frank Martin’s team’s appearance, the program’s first-ever, comes as somewhat of a surprise, A’ja Wilson and Co.’s win Monday was anything but unexpected. The four-time defending SEC Champions have now reached the Final Four in two out of the past three years, though they are still looking for an elusive NCAA title.
Coach Dawn Staley’s side comes into Dallas with a record of 31-4 and will take on No. 2 Stanford Friday. Their male counterparts will face off against top-seeded Gonzaga on Saturday in Phoenix.
South Carolina is the 10th school to send both sides to the Final Four, with UConn accomplishing the feat three times. Other schools on the list include Syracuse (2016), Louisville (2013), LSU (2006), Michigan State (2005), Texas (2003), Oklahoma (2002) and Duke (1999).
Twice has a men’s and women’s program captured a national title in the same year — UConn in 2004 and again in 2014.
It has also been a banner 12 months for sports in the state of South Carolina. In June, Coastal Carolina claimed its first College World Series title and this past January saw Clemson’s football team stun perennial powerhouse Alabama to win the national championship.
