Everton did neighbours Liverpool a massive favour by holding title-chasing Arsenal to a 1-1 Premier League draw at Goodison Park on Saturday when Iliman Ndiaye's penalty cancelled out a Leandro Trossard opener for the visitors.

Second-placed Arsenal have 62 points from 31 games, 11 behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game-in-hand when they go to Fulham on Sunday. Everton climb to 14th place with 35 points from their 31 matches, 15 points clear of the relegation zone.

Arsenal took the lead in the 34th minute with the first shot on target in the game as a poor header in midfield allowed Raheem Sterling to race clear and feed Trossard, who took a touch and drilled his shot low into the far right corner.

Everton were awarded a penalty two minutes into the second period when Myles Lewis-Skelly hauled down Jack Harrison in the box and Ndiaye netted his ninth goal of the season in all competitions to leave Arsenal's flagging title hopes in tatters.

"It is a tough one, in general we played well but how we started the second half was not good enough," Trossard told TNT Sports. "We know this is a tough place to come and you need to score the second goal to put the game to bed.

"In the second half we played too much into their game-plan and not enough of ours."

There was a touching moment before kickoff as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta embraced the man he calls his "football father" David Moyes, who had given the former midfielder his introduction to the English game when the Spaniard spent almost seven years at Everton.

It was a scrappy contest for the most part with neither side able to be at their best, but Arsenal had the better chances and will be disappointed they could not force a second goal.

For Everton it was another point towards safety in the fourth-last game at their famous old stadium before moving to a new home next season.

But it was also a 14th draw of the campaign, more than any other side has managed, including Arsenal, who are now joint second on that list with 11.

"It is a great point," Ndiaye said. "We were not good enough in the first half, but we were able to turn things around and everyone came more into it."

Trossard's goal lit up a tepid opening period devoid of chances, as Arsenal profited from one of the many times Everton gave the ball away cheaply.

But Arsenal switched off early in the second half and twice Everton caught them with long diagonal balls, with teenager Lewis-Skelly caught the wrong side in the second of those, bringing Harrison to the floor.

Arsenal had two free kicks in excellent positions, but Bukayo Saka hit the wall and Declan Rice saw his powerful effort beaten away by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who also made a superb stop from Gabriel Martinelli's rasping drive.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said there is "no way" Everton should have been awarded a penalty in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

David Moyes' side put another dent in Arsenal's faltering Premier League title hopes when Iliman Ndiaye converted a second-half spot-kick to cancel out Leandro Trossard's earlier strike on Merseyside.

Referee Darren England awarded the penalty after Myles Lewis-Skelly appeared to bring down Jack Harrison inside the area, with the Video Assistant referee (VAR) Stuart Atwell choosing not to overturn the onfield decision. However, replays showed the contact from Lewis-Skelly appeared to be minimal, and Arteta voiced his frustration with the decision after the match.

"The referee decides to give a penalty that changes the course of the game," Arteta said. "I'm here to give my opinion and, after seeing it 15 times, there is no way in my opinion that is a penalty because if it is then [Jake] O'Brien has to be out, and Everton have to play with 10 men. That's clear."

Arsenal are now 11 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who could extend their advantage with a victory over Fulham on Sunday.

Arteta will quickly have to pick his players up ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Real Madrid at the Emirates.

"It's one of the most beautiful games you can play in football," Arteta said of Tuesday's match. "In the highest European competition against the team that dominated that competition the last 20-25 years, so we're really looking forward to it."

Saturday's result moves Everton up to 14th in the Premier League table and 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

"I'm really satisfied," Everton boss David Moyes said in his postmatch news conference. "We didn't start well but we showed a little bit more in the second half which got us back in the game. It's been a difficult week. We've had the team at the top of the Premier League, the team who's second in the league, and I think we've given them both decent games."

He added: "Obviously mathematically we're not safe yet but I'm hoping to take a visit to the [new] stadium this week which would indicate that I think we're pretty close. I want us to keep getting ready now for Premier League football [next season]. I know we've got a bit to do, and I hope I'm not speaking too soon."

Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe, one of the best point guards in the portal, has committed to Kentucky, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

Lowe reportedly met with the Kentucky staff earlier this week, where the Wildcats made their pitch.

A third-team All-ACC selection, Lowe averaged 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists this season. He started the season with back-to-back 20-point performances, and also had 28 points against Ohio State in late November. In the month of March, he had a 16-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist performance against Louisville and went for 15 points and 10 assists in a win over Boston College.

Lowe was one of the bigger breakout stars in the ACC, improving significantly from 9.6 points and 3.3 assists during his freshman season.

Mark Pope should have a loaded perimeter group next season, with Lowe joining top-25 recruits Jasper Johnson and Acaden Lewis. Collin Chandler, who saw an increased role down the stretch of the season, and Travis Perry could return, while second-team All-SEC star Otega Oweh will be the team's leader if he heads back to Lexington.

Lowe is Kentucky's second transfer addition of the spring, following Tulane freshman Kam Williams.

Which teams do ESPN analysts have winning the men's Final Four games this weekend? And which one do they predict to cut down the nets in San Antonio on Monday night?

We polled 56 personalities who have covered the men's college basketball season on ESPN platforms this season -- from past national champions Jim Boeheim and Jay Williams to Bracketologist Joe Lunardi -- on the winners of Auburn vs. Florida and Duke vs. Houston. We also asked them to pick their national champion.

The semifinals results don't stray far from the odds at ESPN BET -- but they do on the title winner.

Duke, Florida favorites to win Final Four

Walter Clayton Jr. and the Florida Gators were picked by 59% of the analysts polled (a 33 to 23 split) to beat Johni Broome and the Auburn Tigers -- almost precisely the same implied probability (60%) of Florida's -155 money-line odds.

Meanwhile, Cooper Flagg and the Duke Blue Devils were picked by 73% (or 41) of the respondents to defeat L.J. Cryer and the Houston Cougars, again closely matching the implied probability (72%) of Duke's -260 money-line odds.

Duke favored to win, No. 2 a potential surprise

Little surprise here: Most picked the Blue Devils to cut down the nets at the Alamodome on Monday night with 61% of the support (or 34 votes).

But unlike the futures market at ESPN BET, which gives Florida the second-best odds to win it all, the second-most picked team isn't from the SEC. Rather, 11 of the 15 analysts who picked Houston to win its Final Four matchup against Duke have the Cougars going all the way.

Florida (seven) and Auburn (four) split the final votes. See the full breakdown of votes below!

Scroll right if viewing on mobile/ESPN App

Bayern Munich forward Thomas Müller has revealed that he will be leaving the club at the end of the current season, bringing an end to a 25-year career with the club.

In a club press release, the 35-year-old shared his thoughts on his time coming to an end with Bayern.

"It's clear that today is not like any other day for me. My 25 years as an FC Bayern Munich player will come to an end in the summer. It's been an incredible journey, shaped by unique experiences, great encounters and unforgettable triumphs.

"I feel immense gratitude and joy that I got to make this career with my beloved club. The special connection to the club and our fantastic fans will always remain. What I want as a farewell should be clear: titles we can celebrate together, and moments we'll remember fondly for a long time.

"We're going to give our all in the coming weeks to bring the league title back to Munich and reach our coveted 'Finale Dahoam'. Let's do it together!".

Müller, who has been with Bayern Munich since he was a child, became one of the most important figures in Bayern's modern history, winning numerous domestic and international titles, including multiple Bundesliga championships and the 2020 UEFA Champions League.

Sporting director Christoph Freund thanked Müller for his service to Bayern, currently sitting 1st in Germany's Bundesliga.

"Thomas Müller: no tricks, no show, just an incredible amount of instinct and extraordinary reading of the game - a pure footballer. There'll never be another one like him, that's for sure, and he internalised FC Bayern from a young age.

This decision was extremely hard, as everyone can understand. In the end it was for reasons of squad planning, and the most important thing is that you can look each other in the eye afterwards. That's the case here. Now we will do everything we can to finish with more trophies."

He also retired from Germany duty after their exit from Euro 2024, ending his international career with 131 caps and 45 goals.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Stephen Curry split two Denver Nuggets defenders, knocked down a 20-foot pull-up shot while being fouled and let out a scream while stomping his feet.

Curry and the Golden State Warriors continued to make noise Friday night, winning their fifth straight game with a 118-104 victory over the Nuggets at Chase Center.

"[There's a] sense of urgency down the stretch," Curry said. "The feeling of where you are in the standings, every game mattering. And the idea that the chess match of 'how do we win this particular game?' becomes a little bit more important.

He added: "We thrive off of that. That's why we've been so successful for this many years. Because as the stakes rise, the lights get brighter, we tend to level up."

Curry has raised his level. He made seven 3-pointers and scored 36 points to beat the Nuggets. In the past three games, Curry has scored a total of 125 points, second only to LeBron James for most points in a three-game span by a player age 37 or older, according to ESPN Research.

"In three different cities at 37," Warriors coach Steve Kerr added. "He looked so fast out there tonight, and I think maybe it's the most underrated part of his game, is his conditioning. Just incredible what he does out there, especially considering how much attention he draws defensively, how much pressure people put on him, and he handles it night after night and flourishes."

Since Golden State acquired Jimmy Butler before the trade deadline, the Warriors have been a completely different team, going 21-5 since Butler made his debut in Chicago on Feb. 8.

Draymond Green proclaimed during All-Star weekend that the Warriors will win the championship with Butler. This week, they made a statement. The Warriors won three straight games that have felt like playoff games, beating teams that were or are currently above them in the Western Conference standings.

Golden State (46-31) won a critical game in Memphis on Tuesday to gain the tiebreaker over the Grizzlies. They beat the Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday and then returned home after spending 14 days on the road and took care of Denver in the second game of a back-to-back. Friday's win snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Nuggets (47-31).

Curry, whose three-point play pushed the Warriors up by 15 with 2:30 remaining, was asked if the Warriors are playing like a team at a championship level.

"We're playing like that," Curry said. "We have a lot of work. I've been saying that since this run started. We still have a lot of work to do to finish the year strong. You are seeing an identity on a night-to-night that we understand how to win games. Whether it's games where tempo is a lot faster, you got to score or if it's a grind-out defensive game. We've played better in fourth quarters with leads. All the things that championship-caliber teams do, we've been doing and it's clearly different than two months ago.

"For us to just be able to get into a playoffs series, we understand what we're capable of, and whether you're predicting it or speaking it into existence or whatever it is, the confidence is there. So just ride that wave."

The Warriors are riding the momentum they have had since the Butler trade. Curry and Green are rejuvenated and role players such as Brandin Podziemski, who had 26 points against the Nuggets one night after scoring 28 against the Lakers, are thriving alongside Butler.

On Sunday, the Warriors face the Houston Rockets, who are currently second in the West. Golden State's goal is to stay in the top six and out of the play-in tournament.

"We've got momentum right now," Kerr said. "The Memphis one was probably the big one to kick off this three-game stretch. And so to string these wins together against three teams all ahead of us in the standings at the time, massive.

"We've got five games left, we know we've got to win four of them to guarantee a top-six spot, so we just got to keep going."

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jose Ramirez blasted three homers and carried the Guardians to a victory Friday night. The veteran slugger claimed another place in Cleveland baseball history in the process.

Ramírez hit a solo homer in the first, a tying two-run shot in the fifth and another solo shot in the ninth inning of the Guardians' 8-6 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Ramírez's 26th career multi-homer game moved him even with Albert Belle and Jim Thome for the most multi-homer performances in the history of a franchise that began play in 1901. It was also the second three-homer game of Ramírez's career, which has been spent entirely with Cleveland.

"I appreciate these types of days," Ramírez said through an interpreter. "Sometimes it's hard to hit one, and then when you hit three, you just thank God for these type of games, and most importantly because we won."

Ramírez connected twice off Angels starter Jose Soriano, homering on two low breaking balls. He got his third off a high fastball from rookie Caden Dana, adding an insurance run that helped the Guardians to survive the Angels' two-run rally later in the ninth.

Ramírez also hit three homers on June 8, 2023, at home against Boston. His 259 homers are the second-most in Cleveland history, trailing only Thome's 337.

Ramírez's coaches and teammates could only marvel at another signature night from a superstar who doesn't always get his due.

"Best player in the world," Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said with a grin. "Man, he's some kind of impressive. What a great night. Really picked us up on a night where we needed a lot of offense, and our best player came through the way those guys do. They step up. They know when we need that. They just have a knack for finding ways to do that. A three-homer game, those are so rare in itself, but to be able to witness it and to have him do it the way he did was really impressive."

Ramírez did it six days after spraining his right wrist while sliding in Kansas City, a mishap that forced him to miss one game and has left him still missing a large chunk of skin on his hand.

The Guardians expect such feats from Ramírez, the six-time All-Star who made the All-MLB first team last season while leading Cleveland to 92 victories, the AL Central crown and the AL Championship Series. He led the Guardians in homers (39), RBIs (118) and stolen bases (41), barely missing the 40-40 club.

He hasn't stolen a base yet in 2025, but he's off to a strong start in the quest for his first 40-homer season.

"You always want good outcomes every time you hit," Ramírez said. "Sometimes you hit the first homer, and then you don't hit anything after that. We got good results."

Ramírez's evening wasn't all good: He botched Luis Rengifo's two-out grounder to third in the third inning for his third error in three games. Jo Adell followed with a two-run single that put the Angels up 4-2.

Vogt said he isn't worried about Ramírez's rough defensive stretch, calling it "a blip" for the third baseman who finished second in Gold Glove voting last year. The manager also knew Ramírez's next at-bats would be important to him after an error.

"You always find with the top players in the league, when they happen to make a mistake like that, they seem to make up for it right away," Vogt said. "It happens all the time. But we're going to continue working on defense."

It's 13 years ago this month that the Manchester derby decided the Premier League title. Vincent Kompany's goal in a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium in April 2012 was a huge step toward Manchester City lifting the trophy, which they got their hands on after a mighty scare from Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the campaign.

The 2012 derby was supposed to mark the start of a new era of Manchester dominance, the two clubs fighting for top honors at home and abroad, with games at Old Trafford and the Etihad having the same pull as Real Madrid vs. Barcelona. It has not really worked out like that. Instead, Man United and Man City meet on Sunday in perhaps the most low-key derby of the last decade.

United are 13th in the table and have got one eye on next week's Europa League tie against Lyon. City, meanwhile, need points to ensure they qualify for next season's Champions League, but the title is long gone and on its way to Liverpool. Aside from the usual bragging rights, there's not much at stake at Old Trafford this weekend.

How did we get here, are there causes for optimism, and can the Manchester derby get back to being the biggest game of the year?

MANCHESTER UNITED

What's gone wrong for them?

You can separate United's problems into those off the pitch and those on it.

Off the pitch, they're paying the price for 20 years of mismanagement under the ownership of the Glazer family. Money has been drained from United's coffers, and what has been spent has been invested poorly. It has led to serious concerns that what was once one of the most profitable clubs in the world could breach Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) and suffer the consequences.

On the pitch, this season has been traumatic. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team dithered over whether to keep Erik ten Hag last summer. The Dutchman was eventually sacked in November and replaced with Ruben Amorim, who has tried to implement an entirely new playing style -- only with players that don't fit.

Amorim warned in December that a "storm will come," and that's exactly what has happened. United are on course for their lowest league finish in the Premier League era and the campaign now rests on how they fare in the Europa League. They play their quarterfinal first leg against Lyon four days after the derby.

The biggest issues affecting performances are a propensity to concede the first goal in games and a struggle to find the net at the other end. The problems scoring goals predates Amorim's arrival, but he hasn't yet been able to find a solution.

Are there reasons for optimism?

The biggest reason for hope that things may eventually start to turn around is that the Glazers aren't in charge anymore. They're still majority owners; it's clear, though, that they aren't calling the shots. Ratcliffe and his new hires have made an underwhelming start to life as custodians, but there's at least a new set of eyes and the makings of a plan to move United forward.

Ultimately, the aim is to get back to the top of domestic and European football -- and that's a long road back from where they are. The people in charge -- Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox -- need to make a lot of right decisions quickly, particularly in recruitment, and that's tough to do. Even with that, United have a lot of ground to make up: They kick off on Sunday 14 points behind City, and Pep Guardiola's team are nowhere near title challengers Liverpool and Arsenal.

The main reason for optimism is that this, hopefully, is rock bottom and there can be some kind of upward trajectory from here. The other option is that things are set to get even worse before they get better, and that's almost unthinkable. Another season worse than this one, and you're talking about a genuine battle against relegation. -- Dawson

MANCHESTER CITY

What's gone wrong for them?

There are many factors involved and it's subjective as to which are the most significant, but ultimately, they have all combined to leave City on course for the worst season under Pep Guardiola since 2016-17 -- and potentially the team's lowest league finish in a complete season since Sheikh Mansour's takeover of the club in September 2008.

Injuries to key players, most notably Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, poor recruitment dating back to the post-Treble summer of 2023 and a core of long-serving players beginning to fade have been major on-field issues, but off-pitch issues have also had an impact. In addition to the ongoing uncertainty over City's fate in the hearing into the 115 Premier League charges, there are lingering doubts over Guardiola's future until he signed a new contract last November.

Ultimately, it is on the pitch that City have fallen short, though, and that can be attributed to Guardiola and the club's recruitment team failing to act sooner to evolve the squad -- namely replacements for Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Kyle Walker. Re-signing Ilkay Gündogan last summer at the age of 33, a year after his free transfer move to Barcelona, was a rare example of a short-term move by City when they've previously been so good at making astute long-term signings.

Are there reasons for optimism?

Let's leave aside the outcome of the 115 charges hearing for now, because nobody knows how that will play out, but the good news for City is that Guardiola has pledged his future to the club until June 2027, Erling Haaland signed a 9-year contract in January and mid-winter signings Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez have shown signs of being good additions.

With Guardiola and Haaland at the club, City have arguably the best the coach in the world and also the most prolific goal scorer, so both give them a huge advantage.

The structure at City is also so well established now that their Academy continues to produce top-quality youngsters -- too many of them, including Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, were allowed to leave to shine at other clubs -- and the likes of Nico O'Reilly, Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis highlight the depth of homegrown talent still at the club.

But let's revert back to the 115 charges because if the verdict goes against City, it could change everything. Right now, they're locked in a battle for Champions League qualification and even a small points deduction this season would likely see them miss out on next season's competition.

If City miss out on the Champions League, it would be a significant blow to their finances, especially if they are found to have previously inflated sponsorship and also face heavy fines. City deny all charges, but if the hearing doesn't go their way, the years ahead will be extremely challenging. -- Ogden

How will we get back to this derby being the biggest game on the calendar?

To be the biggest game on the fixture list, the Manchester derby has to be the game that decides the title, and that won't happen until United get their act together.

City have had a poor season, but unless the Premier League hits them with massive sanctions, it's likely to be a blip rather than anything more significant. United's decline is far more terminal. Liverpool are going to be champions, and Arsenal have already given notice that they're planning a major spend in the summer to bridge the gap. Newcastle United will eventually unlock their financial capability, and Chelsea also have the resources to compete.

It's going to take some turnaround for United to go from bottom half of the table to contenders, and they're probably looking at a four- or five-year rebuild before they're legitimately in the conversation. The first job is to consistently qualify for the Champions League.

It would be fantastic for Manchester if the derby was deciding the title year after year, but right now, it feels like that's a long way off. -- Dawson

A harsh perspective of the Manchester derby is that it hasn't been the biggest game on the calendar since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as United manager in 2013 because the Reds have been miles away from challenging City for the biggest honors.

Between 2008 and 2013, when United were the dominant team and City the emerging force, this was the absolute No. 1 game in England and as competitive and significant as Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund, Celtic vs. Rangers. Name a great rivalry, and United vs. City was as big and meaningful as them all. It's why Ferguson called City the "noisy neighbors" -- they had been insignificant to United for decades until Sheikh Mansour's money changed everything.

So while City have their issues to address, the onus is on United to restore the box office appeal of this game. Until they start to challenge for the Premier League title again, United will be behind Liverpool and Arsenal in terms of being a threat to City, who have dominated the city's football landscape for over a decade now.

City will continue to be serious contenders for all the major honors unless they are hit incredibly hard by the Premier League. United? They are at base camp in their rebuild, and nobody can be certain it will work out, but unless they get their recruitment right and coach Ruben Amorim can revive a fallen giant, it's the blue side of Manchester that will be the chasing the biggest trophies. -- Ogden

TAMPA, Fla. -- In Paige Bueckers' final collegiate game, she will have the opportunity to do what she always dreamed of doing with UConn -- win a national championship.

The presumptive No.1 overall pick in this month's WNBA draft, Bueckers and the Huskies demolished No. 1 overall seed UCLA 85-51 in the national semifinal, the largest margin of victory in NCAA Final Four history, to advance to the program's 13th national title game appearance. UConn became the first team in NCAA tournament history to beat a 1-seed by 30 or more points.

The Huskies advanced to Sunday's title game against defending champion South Carolina, which they beat earlier this season in Columbia. UConn opened as a 5.5-point favorite on ESPN BET.

"At this point, anything you did prior to the season means nothing," Bueckers said. "The record is 0-0 and teams are tying to go 1-0 in the final game. So keep up the defensive intensity like we did tonight. They're a really good team. They get out in transition, they've got interior play and great guard play, so we'll have our hands full."

The Bruins finished the season 34-3 and bowed out of the tournament after making their first Final Four appearance.

Though Bueckers' title chase fuels the Huskies, UConn's dominance Friday came more from her teammates. Freshman Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd combined for 41 points, while Bueckers, who totaled 105 points in her three previous games, had a quiet night by her standards with 16 points on 7-for-17 shooting (0-for-3 from 3).

It's that talent and depth around Bueckers, who'll appear in her second national title game, that UConn coach Geno Auriemma has said throughout this season will give the Huskies their best shot at winning their 12th championship and first since 2016, when they four-peated.

"It's just so much fun to watch her play with joy and be at this stage," Bueckers said of Fudd. "You see all the ups and downs, the bad days, the good days, and to be at this spot where it's the light at the end of the tunnel and for her to perform and be at this stage, it means everything to us."

The game was effectively over in the first half, when UConn dominated on both ends and took a 42-22 halftime lead. The Huskies swarmed defensively, forcing 14 Bruins turnovers and holding them -- other than UCLA star Lauren Betts (11 points) -- to 5-for-14 shooting from the field. Betts paced UCLA with 26 points on 11-for-18 shooting, but no teammate finished with more than eight points.

UConn's offense flowed most of the way, scoring off multiple transition plays that featured jaw-dropping passes.

After an off-night in the Elite Eight with eight points, Fudd delivered on her promise to leave that poor performance in Spokane, Washington. Aggressive from the tip, she put up 19 first-half points, nearly matching the Bruins' total in the first 20 minutes. The Huskies improved to 25-1 in Fudd's career when she scores 15 or more points.

Strong carried the Huskies in the second half, scoring 14 of her 22 points. She became the third UConn freshman with at least 20 points in a Final Four game, joining Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart.

By the end of the third quarter, Fudd and Strong had as many combined points as UCLA (37).

The Bruins briefly got the deficit below 20 points early in the third, but the Huskies kept their foot on the gas from there.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Sunday's national championship matchup is set. The South Carolina Gamecocks will face the UConn Huskies at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.

It's a rematch of the 2022 NCAA title game in Minneapolis. South Carolina won that matchup 64-49 to capture its second national championship. That is the only NCAA final that the Huskies have lost; they came into that contest 11-0 in title games.

It's also a rematch from the regular season. The Huskies routed the Gamecocks 87-58 on Feb. 16 in Columbia, South Carolina. UConn's Azzi Fudd scored 28 points to help snap South Carolina's 71-game home win streak.

We tracked all the action Friday as South Carolina beat Texas and UConn upended No. 1 overall seed UCLA. Check out our analysis and first look at the NCAA title game.

Jump to results and analysis: UConn-UCLA | South Carolina-Texas

(2) UConn vs.
(1) South Carolina

What's at stake?

UConn seeks its 12th national title and first since 2016. South Carolina looks to repeat after last year's 38-0 undefeated season. It would be the Gamecocks' third title in four years and fourth overall.

Three X factors for Sunday's national championship

Who wins the freshman battle between UConn's Sarah Strong and South Carolina's Joyce Edwards?

Strong had 22 points in Friday's 85-51 blowout of UCLA, owning the second half. In South Carolina's 74-57 win over Texas in the Friday's first semifinal, Edwards had 13 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.

In the regular-season matchup, Strong had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Edwards 17 and 5. Neither player is on an island; they will have plenty of help. But a lot of eyes will be on these two stars of the freshman class.

Can South Carolina limit Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers?

Fudd had 19 points (all in the first half) and Bueckers 16 against UCLA. The Bruins just couldn't execute the way they wanted on offense, and that made their defense even more suspect against UConn. If there's one thing South Carolina has been able to count on all season, it's defense. Bree Hall, the Gamecocks' primary defensive stopper on the perimeter, will have a busy afternoon against UConn.

Can South Carolina make the most of its bench strength?

Like their defense, the Gamecocks have had great production from their bench this season. And that could be a big factor if they can get the offensive boost from the bench (35 points) on Sunday that they did Friday. Along with Edwards, guards Tessa Johnson (9) and MiLaysia Fulwiley (7) helped do damage against Texas. -- Michael Voepel

(2) UConn vs.
(1) UCLA

Final: No. 2 UConn 85, No. 1 UCLA 51

How UConn beat UCLA: The Huskies took control of this game from the start with their offense, defense and experience. The first half was the Azzi Fudd show, as the UConn guard had 19 points in helping the Huskies to a 42-22 halftime lead.

UCLA struggled to work the ball into the players it wanted to get touches, and UConn had nine steals in the first half. Bruins coach Cori Close kept imploring her team to get up the court quicker, to pass more crisply and to not give Fudd so many open looks.

Then things didn't get any better in the second half for the Bruins, who finish the season at 34-3. Even though Fudd didn't score after halftime, it didn't hurt UConn at all. That's because freshman Sarah Strong proved just as lethal; she scored 14 points in the second half and finished with 22 to lead the Huskies.

Paige Bueckers didn't shoot at her usual efficiency -- 7-of-17 from the field -- but she still finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, including a beautiful touch pass to teammate Kaitlyn Chen on a second-quarter fast break that will make highlight reels.

The No. 1 factor that helped UConn reach Sunday's title game: The Huskies' defense reduced UCLA to mostly a one player threat on offense. Center Lauren Betts had 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting and 5 rebounds. But the rest of the Bruins were 9 of 34 from the field, and none scored in double figures. The experience that UConn as a program and players like Bueckers individually have in the Final Four showed Friday. The Huskies looked comfortable, like this was just another game for them to show their stuff.

The Bruins, by contrast, seemed rattled and uncertain, not looking like the team that was ranked No. 1 for longer than any other program this season. But unless there are transfers or other departures, UCLA could bring back all of its players and make another run at the Final Four next year. This experience, painful as it was to be blown out in the national semifinals, could help that quest.

What is UConn's key in the championship game: The Huskies will face South Carolina in a rematch of the 2022 NCAA final won by the Gamecocks. South Carolina went into that game a favorite, but UConn -- despite being a No. 2 seed -- is likely considered the favorite Sunday. That's in part because of what UConn did to the Gamecocks when they met in Columbia, South Carolina, on Feb. 16 in an 87-58 victory.

Despite that result, Sunday should be what neither of Friday's semifinals were: a close game. The Huskies will need their big three of Bueckers, Fudd and Strong to keep doing what they've done all tournament: control the pace and momentum. -- Michael Voepel

An emotional Betts exits

An emotional Lauren Betts just checked out of the game for UCLA. She bent over crying at the end of the bench before taking a seat and putting a towel over her face. Just named the Lisa Leslie Award winner as the country's top center, she finished with 26 points and 5 rebounds. -- Katie Barnes

UConn pulling away as Betts lone bright spot for UCLA

UConn's lead now is 72-43 with 4:15 left. Lauren Betts is up to 23 points for UCLA, but no other Bruins have reached double figures. -- Michael Voepel

Stat fact: Sarah Strong is in elite company

Sarah Strong is the third freshman in UConn history with at least 20 points in a Final Four game.

Maya Moore did it in the 2008 semifinal against Stanford (20 points) and Breanna Stewart did it in the semis (29) and championship (23) in 2013. -- ESPN Research

One more period to play

The smallest momentum that UCLA gets is shut down almost immediately. The Huskies lead 60-37 at the end of the third quarter. UConn didn't get any points from Azzi Fudd in the third quarter, but didn't need any. Freshman Sarah Strong had 10 points and senior Paige Bueckers had 6 points in the quarter for the Huskies, who appear well on their way to a championship game matchup with South Carolina. -- Michael Voepel

UCLA fans feeling the pain

Even when things look like they are going right for UCLA, it just isn't panning out. After getting UConn deep into the shot clock and forcing a Paige Bueckers miss, the ball bounced around and landed with the Huskies. As Sarah Strong hit a 3-pointer to make it a 53-29 UConn lead, I heard a UCLA fan screaming "NOOOO." The despondence is palpable. -- Katie Barnes

Offensive struggles continue for Bruins

UConn is up 50-28 with 4:54 left in the third quarter. Again, nothing outside of Lauren Betts is working offensively for UCLA, which is 1 of 7 from 3-point range. Betts is 7 of 13 from the field; the rest of the Bruins are 5 of 19. -- Michael Voepel

Halftime: UConn 42, UCLA 22

Most everything they have wanted has gone the UConn Huskies' way in the first half. Azzi Fudd leads all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Sarah Strong has 8 points and Paige Bueckers 6.

Center Lauren Betts has been the only big threat offensively for UCLA; she has 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting. This is the Bruins' lowest halftime total of the season; the previous low was 25.

The Bruins are shooting 41.7% (10 of 24). UCLA finished 9-for-15 in the paint, 1-for-9 outside of it. UConn is outscoring UCLA by 22 outside the paint.

The Bruins are struggling to move the ball against UConn's active defense. The Huskies have 9 first-half steals to just 1 for UCLA.

UConn is 64-0 when leading by 15 or more points at halftime in the NCAA tournament. So for UCLA to go to the championship game, the Bruins will need to have an epic comeback. -- Michael Voepel

Close not happy with Bruins' D on Fudd

UCLA coach Cori Close appears disgusted that Azzi Fudd keeps getting open looks against the Bruins' defense and knocking them down. Close will have to challenge her team at halftime to do something to slow down Fudd. But that is very difficult. UConn leads 42-22 at halftime, and Fudd has 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting. -- Michael Voepel

Bueckers to Chen = chef's kiss

Paige Bueckers just did what I can only describe as a Superman touch pass assist to Kaitlyn Chen to give UConn a 17-point lead with 1:32 left in the first half. Definitely goes in the pantheon of great passes. -- Katie Barnes

Bruins work the paint

Almost all of UCLA's offensive success is coming in the paint. The Bruins are shooting 8-for-12 (67%) in the paint, with 10 of those points coming from Lauren Betts. Bruins trail UConn 32-20 with 4:01 left in the second quarter. -- Michael Voepel

Slow start for UCLA

With 4:57 left in the second quarter, UConn leads UCLA 29-17. The fewest points the Bruins have scored in a half this season is 25. They did that twice: in the first half vs. Oregon on Feb. 9 and the second half vs USC on Feb. 13. -- Michael Voepel

It's 11 and counting for Fudd

Azzi Fudd already has 11 points, which is more than she had in the Elite Eight against USC. Fudd started that game 0-for-9, but is 4-for-5 tonight. UConn leads 27-13 with 8:27 to play in the second quarter. -- Katie Barnes

Fudd heating up early

After banking in a 3-point shot from the top of the key, Azzi Fudd gave Paige Bueckers a little side-eye look as if to say, "I can't believe that went in, either." Azzi has hit her first three shots from the floor and is up to seven points early. -- Katie Barnes

Bruins need early adjustments

The Bruins so far have made it too easy for UConn to tip away passes meant for center Lauren Betts. UCLA needs to adjust to how it is getting her the ball. UConn is up 15-10 with 3:05 left in the first quarter of tonight's second semifinal. -- Michael Voepel

South Carolina-Texas results and live analysis

(1) Texas vs.
(1) South Carolina

Final: South Carolina 74, Texas 57

How South Carolina beat Texas: There's a line in "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green about falling asleep: that it first happens slowly, and then all at once. That pretty much sums up what the Gamecocks did to Texas over the course of the game. South Carolina chipped away at Texas' early lead after getting All-American Madison Booker into foul trouble. Despite the early start from Texas, the Gamecocks limited their mistakes, got stops and hit shots. It's a simple formula, but South Carolina outscored Texas 20-9 in the third quarter to open a 14-point lead and never looked back. Texas coach Vic Schaefer pulled Booker halfway through the fourth quarter. The Gamecocks poured it on. Slowly, and then all at once.

The No. 1 factor that helped South Carolina reach Sunday's title game? South Carolina built a 14-point lead by the end of the third quarter, in part by feasting on paint points and easy buckets. The Gamecocks finished the game with 40 points in the paint and 15 fast-break points. They were 14-for-26 on layups. Joyce Edwards had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

In addition to scoring inside, South Carolina outrebounded Texas 36-28. The Gamecocks had their way inside, and then shot 63.6% from 3-point range to boot. It's tough to win when South Carolina is doing that.

South Carolina's key in the championship game? Bench production. After a rough performance against Duke that saw Edwards, MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson combine for nine points on 4-for-14 shooting, they showed up big for the Gamecocks. Those three combined for 29 points Friday and just three turnovers. Against Duke, the nine bench points were a season low, but it was a different story in Tampa. No matter who South Carolina faces, if the bench shows up, especially Fulwiley, Johnson and Edwards, the Gamecocks will have a great shot at successfully defending their title. -- Katie Barnes

Hugs for Holle

Shay Holle, the all-time winningest player in Texas women's basketball history, was in tears as she came off the floor for the last time, knowing her season and career are about to come to an end. Her teammates rushed to give her a hug. -- Andrea Adelson

Gamecocks showing off the depth that got them here

All nine players who have gotten into the game for South Carolina have scored. This is the version of the Gamecocks that is so difficult to guard, even for an excellent defensive team like Texas. It's so hard to scheme against that. Plus, the Gamecocks' defense is very confident -- they are making everything a chore for Texas. This game has looked a lot like the two wins South Carolina got against Texas earlier this season: by 17 points in Columbia, South Carolina, in January and by 19 in the SEC tournament final in Greenville, South Carolina, in March. -- Michael Voepel

Edwards in rare company

Joyce Edwards is the second freshman in Final Four history with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a game, joining Maryland's Marissa Coleman (2006). -- Alexa Philippou

What slump?

South Carolina freshman Joyce Edwards said Thursday that she hadn't been in any slumps in her young basketball career. So the three subpar scoring performances heading into the Final Four were uncharacteristic for her. But she seemed confident that she would get over that and play well in the national semifinals. She has done just that tonight. -- Michael Voepel

Edwards stepping up for Gamecocks

Joyce Edwards might have had a quiet start to the NCAA tournament, but tonight she looks like the version of herself we saw earlier this year. She's up to a team-high 12 points for the Gamecocks, while adding 10 boards, 4 assists and 1 steal. South Carolina is up 14, and she's a big reason why. -- Alexa Philippou

South Carolina pulling away

Indeed, Texas only has six points in the third quarter -- and South Carolina has found a way to build its lead with easy buckets in the paint -- including that last layup from Joyce Edwards, who is having her best NCAA tournament game since the opening round. South Carolina has 32 paint points so far in the game. -- Andrea Adelson

Advantage, South Carolina?

The Longhorns are in danger of letting this game get away from them. Coach Vic Schaefer just sat down in a huff after back-to-back offensive possessions before calling a timeout. South Carolina has opened a 13-point lead and feels on the cusp of running Texas out of the gym. -- Katie Barnes

Paopao powers South Carolina

Senior Te-Hina Paopao has made so many timely plays this game. She's up to 11 points on perfect shooting from the field (4-for-4 from field, including 2-for-2 on 3-pointers). And that steal and score felt particularly huge, giving the Gamecocks their first double-digit lead of the night. -- Alexa Philippou

Halftime analysis: South Carolina 38, Texas 35

Somehow, despite Madison Booker playing just 9 minutes in the first half and having three fouls, Texas is not out of this game. South Carolina came back from being down eight in the first quarter and the Gamecocks look formidable. But if you told me Booker would have played less than a quarter of game time in the first half and Texas only trailed by three, I would have been shocked. Jordan Lee has been a huge bright spot for the Longhorns, filling the offensive gap left by Booker with 10 points.

South Carolina has gotten 18 of its 38 points from its bench, already surpassing a season low nine total bench points against Duke in the Elite Eight. -- Katie Barnes

Gamecocks lead = Gamecocks win?

Entering tonight, South Carolina has won 103 consecutive games when leading at halftime, the longest active streak in Division I. Its last such loss was March 6, 2022, in the SEC tournament versus Kentucky. Gamecocks lead 38-35 heading into the break. -- Alexa Philippou

Booker whistled for third foul with 2:29 left in second quarter, Texas up 33-31

And Madison Booker is now back out after picking up her third foul with 2:29 left before halftime -- the first time in her career she has three fouls in the first half of a game. She and Vic Schaefer could be heard telling the official, "That's a bad call!" -- Andrea Adelson

Booker checks back in

Madison Booker is back in the game for the Longhorns. She sat for 8:03 with those two fouls, and Texas was outscored 20-14 over that span. -- Alexa Philippou

Texas leads 28-27, 4:33 left in second quarter

Chloe Kitts had been playing her best basketball going back to the SEC tournament, but after picking up an early foul, she has been limited to 6 minutes and has not attempted a shot. What's more she's got two turnovers. Her production was huge in helping South Carolina come from behind to beat Indiana and Duke. Something to keep an eye on as the game progresses. -- Andrea Adelson

Gamecocks bench looks better than it did in Birmingham

Another key to watch: The South Carolina bench. Joyce Edwards and MiLaysia Fulwiley are playing much better than they did against Duke, with a combined 11 points in the first quarter to key the comeback. In fact, South Carolina had 14 total bench points in the first quarter, more than the season-low nine they scored vs Duke. -- Andrea Adelson

Longhorns pouring on the points

Texas' 19 points in the first quarter are its most in any quarter versus South Carolina this season. -- Alexa Philippou

Texas leads 19-18 after the first quarter

My goodness. What a play from Joyce Edwards as the Gamecocks snag the momentum back following an eight-point deficit. Texas led 12-7 when Madison Booker subbed out with two fouls. Texas is up 19-18 as we head to the second frame. -- Alexa Philippou

Overheard on the Texas bench

Just heard Vic Schaefer say to his bench, "I didn't know she had a foul or else I'd take her out," presumably about Madison Booker. -- Alexa Philippou

Booker picks up second foul

Joyce Edwards just held up two fingers after that play -- she knows that Tessa Johnson just picked up Madison Booker's second foul and how huge that is for Texas. -- Alexa Philippou

Texas clicking on both ends

As Andrea pointed out, the Texas defense is doing what it does best, but what's extra notable is in the early going, the offense is clicking as well. Madison Booker has hit her first three shots and is already up to 6 points. The Longhorns are shooting 62.5% from the field in the first five minutes. -- Katie Barnes

Texas dominating

Texas has taken it to South Carolina in every aspect of this game, and is playing with far more energy in the early going. South Carolina has had slow starts previously, but not like this. Texas' D has held South Carolina to 2-of-8 shooting and already forced four turnovers -- Andrea Adelson

South Carolina in an early hole

This eight-point deficit for South Carolina matches its largest of the tournament. The Gamecocks also trailed by that many versus Indiana. -- Alexa Philippou