Can South Carolina Slow Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd? Inside Dawn Staley’s Defensive Gameplan as Bree Hall Prepares for the Biggest Test of Her Senior Season
When it comes to high-stakes matchups in women’s college basketball, few generate the kind of intrigue, tension, and anticipation that a showdown between South Carolina and UConn brings. These two programs represent the pinnacle of modern collegiate excellence: South Carolina, a physical, defensive-minded powerhouse led by the relentless brilliance of head coach Dawn Staley, and UConn, a team known for elegance, offensive artistry, and the pure shot-making talents of stars like Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.
As the 2025 NCAA Women’s Tournament barrels into its most dramatic stages, fans, analysts, and former players alike are all asking the same question: Can South Carolina slow down Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd?
The answer is far from simple, but the strategy from Staley is becoming clearer—and it begins with senior guard Bree Hall, a player who has blossomed from a quiet contributor into the emotional and defensive anchor of the Gamecocks.
This is the story of how South Carolina plans to meet UConn’s firepower with grit, experience, and a level of defensive intensity that has become the program’s calling card under Staley’s leadership.
The Bueckers–Fudd Dilemma
Let’s start with the obvious. Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd aren’t just great players—they are transcendent talents whose chemistry dates back to their high school days. When healthy, they represent the most dynamic backcourt tandem in women’s basketball. Bueckers is the maestro: fluid, creative, and unshakable under pressure. Fudd, on the other hand, is a sniper of the highest order, capable of igniting a run with just a flick of her wrist.
Together, they are nearly impossible to guard. They feed off each other’s movements. If you overplay the ball screen on Bueckers, she’ll slip a bounce pass through the narrowest gap to a rolling big. Hedge too hard on Fudd’s curl cuts, and she’ll fade behind the arc and punish you from three. The synergy is natural, intuitive, and brutal.
“They’re like poetry in motion,” Staley admitted earlier this week during media availability. “But we’re not trying to write poetry. We’re trying to interrupt it.”
Enter Bree Hall.
Bree Hall’s Evolution: From Role Player to Relentless Stopper
For much of her career at South Carolina, Bree Hall was a role player, valued more for her energy and versatility than for any eye-popping statistical output. But over the course of her senior season, Hall has quietly evolved into one of the Gamecocks’ most indispensable assets—particularly on the defensive end.
Standing 6’0″ with long arms, quick feet, and an iron-willed mentality, Hall has taken on the role of defensive captain. In matchups throughout the SEC, she’s often tasked with guarding the opponent’s best scorer, whether that’s a rangy wing, a physical guard, or a deadly shooter.
“She doesn’t ask for credit,” said assistant coach Jolette Law. “But she takes it personally when someone scores on her. And that’s exactly who we need in a game like this.”
Against UConn, Hall will likely be asked to guard both Bueckers and Fudd at different points, depending on rotations and foul trouble. It’s a daunting task. Neither player can be shut down completely. But if Hall can make them uncomfortable—if she can force them into tough shots, challenge passing lanes, and burn clock—it could tilt the game in South Carolina’s favor.
The Dawn Staley Blueprint: Discipline, Switching, and Psychological Warfare
Dawn Staley doesn’t just coach basketball. She prepares her players for war—mental, physical, and emotional.
In big games, Staley’s teams are known for their smothering defensive discipline. It’s not just about denying shots or blocking passes; it’s about disruption of rhythm, a psychological chess match. Her players switch, hedge, trap, and recover with militant precision. Communication is constant. Help defense is always a step ahead.
But against UConn’s precise ball movement and shooting, Staley knows that standard defensive schemes won’t be enough.
“We have to be unpredictable,” she said. “That means mixing coverages. That means showing one look and switching to another mid-possession. That means not letting them get into their comfort zones.”
Expect South Carolina to deploy a mix of:
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Aggressive switches on screens to prevent Bueckers and Fudd from getting separation.
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Soft traps in the corners to take away space.
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Staggered closeouts to disrupt shooting rhythm without overcommitting.
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Face-guarding at times, especially late in quarters to deny last-shot opportunities.
And perhaps most critically, expect South Carolina to attack them mentally. One missed shot or one turnover can snowball if Hall and her teammates are chirping, bumping, and relentlessly pressing.
Bench Depth and Defensive Waves
Another major weapon in Staley’s arsenal is depth. Few teams can rotate nine players without sacrificing intensity, but South Carolina does it better than almost anyone in the nation. With MiLaysia Fulwiley, Te-Hina Paopao, Kamilla Cardoso, and Raven Johnson all playing significant minutes, Staley can send fresh legs at Bueckers and Fudd every few minutes.
It’s not just about rest—it’s about pressure. Every time the Huskies settle into a rhythm, a new defensive assignment appears.
“Over 40 minutes, that wears on you,” said Cardoso. “Even if they hit shots early, we’re going to keep coming.”
This is where the South Carolina system becomes greater than the sum of its parts. While Bueckers and Fudd may be the best players on the court, South Carolina has the best collective. That might just be the difference.
Rebounding and Pace: How to Limit UConn’s Offensive Flow
Defending the shot is only half the battle. Once the ball goes up, South Carolina has to control the glass. Second-chance points are lethal for a team like UConn, and South Carolina knows that dominance on the boards is essential.
That means Kamilla Cardoso, the 6’7″ center, will be critical not only for shot-blocking and interior presence, but also for clearing space for guards like Hall to finish the play with rebounds or outlet passes.
If South Carolina can rebound and run, they might be able to dictate tempo. UConn thrives in structured, half-court sets. Staley, meanwhile, will want to force transition chaos—make Bueckers and Fudd defend on their heels and wear them down by speeding up possessions.
“We want to turn defense into offense,” said Paopao. “If we can run, we can win.”
Intangibles: Experience, Poise, and the Pressure of the Moment
At this point in the season, talent alone doesn’t win games. Poise under pressure, experience in the spotlight, and emotional control are just as important as Xs and Os.
South Carolina, with multiple deep tournament runs in recent years, is no stranger to high-pressure environments. Hall, Johnson, Cardoso, and Staley herself all understand the magnitude of this moment. And they won’t be rattled.
On the other side, UConn has had its share of tournament disappointment over the past few seasons. Injuries have derailed their rhythm. Pressure has mounted on Bueckers and Fudd to restore the dynasty. That burden, while motivating, can also tighten shoulders in the biggest moments.
If the game is close in the final minutes, mental toughness will be the deciding factor.
“We’ve been here before,” Hall said. “We know what it takes.”
What Success Looks Like for South Carolina
Let’s be clear: slowing down Bueckers and Fudd doesn’t mean holding them to zero points. It means:
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Forcing low-percentage shots late in the shot clock.
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Making them work for every bucket.
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Creating turnovers through ball denial and anticipation.
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Limiting their transition threes.
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Taking them out of rhythm for key stretches of the game.
If Hall can keep Fudd under 15 points and force Bueckers into under 40% shooting, that would be a massive win for South Carolina. Combined with their offensive rebounding and scoring versatility, it could be enough to tilt the result.
Final Thoughts: Bree Hall’s Moment of Legacy
Bree Hall may not be a household name like Bueckers or Fudd, but in this matchup, she holds the key.
She represents everything Dawn Staley values in a player: toughness, accountability, intelligence, and quiet leadership. She won’t light up the scoreboard. But she might silence two of the most electric scorers in college basketball.
“She’s been waiting for this moment,” Staley said. “And I know she’s ready.”
And if Hall can rise to the challenge, South Carolina might just write a new chapter in its growing legacy of dominance—one built not on star power, but on heart, grit, and the will to win.
