The South Carolina Gamecocks are making their third consecutive appearance in the National Championship and are aiming to become the first team to win three straight titles since the UConn Huskies achieved that feat in 2015—and later added a fourth in a row.
This year, South Carolina will face off against none other than UConn in the title game, hoping to etch their name into history alongside the very team they’re looking to defeat. The championship matchup is set for Sunday, April 6, at 3:00 p.m. EST in sunny Tampa, Florida. Both teams dominated their Final Four opponents, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting showdown.
Who’s Calling the Game?
An elite broadcast crew will cover the National Championship. Ryan Ruocco will handle play-by-play duties, joined by former UConn star and Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo for color commentary, with Holly Rowe reporting from the sidelines.
All three also called the Final Four games. Lobo brings firsthand championship experience, having helped lead UConn to an undefeated 35-0 season and a national title in 1995. Ruocco is a veteran broadcaster with years of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, and women’s college hoops. Rowe has long been a fixture on the sidelines for both collegiate and pro sports and serves as the lead sideline reporter for the women’s tournament.
Who Will Officiate the Game?
While the official referee crew hasn’t been confirmed, 11 officials were selected to travel to Tampa for the Final Four. From that group, three will be assigned to work the National Championship, with two others designated as standbys at Amalie Arena.
The officials selected for Tampa include:
-
Kyle Bacon
-
Tiffany Bird-Nelson
-
Fatou Cissoko-Stephens
-
Gina Cross
-
Maj Forsberg
-
Felicia Grinter
-
Brian Hall
-
Brenda Pantoja
-
In’Fini Robinson
-
William Smith
-
Joe Vaszily
How to Watch
Gamecock fans can tune in to the National Championship at 3:00 p.m. EST on ESPN. The game will also be available for streaming on mobile devices and smart TVs through FuboTV with a valid subscription.
