They were born just four days apart 19 years ago. One from North Carolina, the other from South Carolina. One would go on to become Naismith High School Player of the Year and the No. 1 recruit in her class. The other would be named Gatorade National Player of the Year and Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year. They would share co-MVP honors at the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game.
And they would both commit to two of the definitional program’s in women’s college basketball, with Sarah Strong joining the UConn Huskies and Joyce Edwards becoming a South Carolina Gamecock. On Sunday, Feb. 16, the two meet for the first time as collegians, taking center stage in the latest chapter of UConn-South Carolina.
Of course, numerous storylines surround Sunday’s meeting between the No. 7 Huskies and No. 4 Gamecocks. There’s the two iconic Philly-born coaches. It’s the program of the 2010s versus the program of the 2020s. It’s a team led by the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft against the team defined by its depth. It’s a matchup between the teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the NCAA’s NET rankings.
Those angles and more will be emphasized during ESPN’s College GameDay, which begins at 11 a.m. ET from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia before the…
