The South Carolina Gamecocks continued their impressive run in the NCAA Women's Tournament after defeating UCLA 59-43 in the Sweet 16. The Gamecocks ensured that the Bruins struggled to keep up with their early pace as UCLA had only 8 points in the first quarter. South Carolina’s coach, Dawn Staley, revealed her plan was "to speed them up and make them play faster than they wanna play". Her veteran-heavy team executed this plan with ease. Bree Hall displayed her excellence at pushing the pace, making a fast-break layup from her own defensive board look simple. The Gamecocks had a comfortable lead in the third quarter, allowing some fans to even leave early.

On the other hand, UCLA couldn’t keep up with the Gamecock’s level of play. UCLA freshman Kiki Rice finished the game with only three points after getting on the board with a jumper late in the second quarter. UCLA's senior guard Charisma Osborne tried to keep the Bruins alive, scoring a career-high 36 points, but it wasn't enough to stop the team from going down to South Carolina. The Bruins fell to one of the best women's basketball programs in the nation. The Gamecocks will face Maryland in the Elite Eight on Monday, hoping to continue on their undefeated run at the tournament.