Women’s college basketball has been on the rise these last few years, riding the wave of iconic players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins.

This time, Azzi Fudd was healthy.

UConn is back on top of women’s basketball, winning its 12th national championship by routing defending champion South Carolina 82-59 behind Azzi Fudd’s 24 points.

The women’s Final Four is full of star players, top seeds and historic programs.

Paige Bueckers carried UConn to its record 24th Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament, scoring 31 points Monday night in a 78-64 victory over Southern California, which couldn’t overcome the loss of injured star JuJu Watkins.

Paige Bueckers scored a career-high 40 points, rescuing UConn from its first-half doldrums and single-handedly turning a tight game against Oklahoma into an 82-59 rout that sent the Huskies to the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Azzi Fudd had 21 of her 27 points in the first half as second-seeded UConn rolled to a 103-34 win over Arkansas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

JuJu Watkins of Southern California and Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame are on The Associated Press women's basketball All-America team for second straight year, becoming the third and fourth players to earn that honor in their first two seasons.

Paige Bueckers scored 24 points and Azzi Fudd added 13 to help No. 3 UConn beat 22nd-ranked Creighton 70-50 to win the Big East championship.

Sarah Strong had 22 points and nine rebounds and Paige Bueckers added 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as No. 5 UConn defeated No. 22 Creighton 72-53 and claimed its fifth straight Big East regular-season title.

Azzi Fudd scored 28 points and No. 7 UConn ended No. 4 South Carolina’s 71-game home winning streak with an 87-58 victory Sunday.

Zee Spearman scored 18 points, including a basket with 12 seconds left, to lead No. 19 Tennessee to an 80-76 win over No. 5 UConn on Thursday night.

Lauren Betts is The Associated Press women's college basketball player of the week.

Iowa State’s NCAA record streak of 945 consecutive games with a 3-pointer ended Tuesday night in a 71-58 victory over Texas Tech. The Cyclones had made a 3-pointer in every game dating back to Feb. 19, 1995, at Colorado when the school was still part of the Big Eight.

JuJu Watkins scored 25 points and No. 7 USC recovered from blowing a 18-point second half lead to beat Paige Bueckers and fourth-ranked UConn 72-70 on Saturday night.

Hannah Hidalgo had 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and No. 8 Notre Dame handed second-ranked UConn its first loss with a 79-68 victory Thursday night.