It’s actually wild to look back at the 2024 NCAA basketball season because, for the first time ever, the "Main Event" didn't just feel like it was about the guys. Usually, when people ask who won NCAA basketball championship 2024, they’re looking for a single name. But 2024 was a double-dose of history. You had Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies turning the men's tournament into a personal playground, while Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks pulled off a perfect, undefeated season that arguably stole the entire national spotlight.
Seriously, the TV ratings alone tell the story. More people watched Caitlin Clark and South Carolina in the women's final than watched the men's final. That’s not a typo. It was a shifting of the tectonic plates in college sports.
UConn’s Historic Repeat: The Men’s Side
UConn didn't just win; they steamrolled everyone. They faced the Purdue Boilermakers and their 7-foot-4 human skyscraper, Zach Edey, in the final on April 8, 2024, at State Farm Stadium in Arizona.
The final score was 75-60.
Honestly, the game was a coaching masterclass. Dan Hurley basically told his team to let Zach Edey get his points (he finished with a massive 37 points and 10 rebounds) but to absolutely suffocate everyone else on the floor. It worked. Purdue’s shooters were ice cold, going a miserable 1-of-7 from three-point range. Meanwhile, UConn’s Tristen Newton—who walked away with the Most Outstanding Player trophy—dropped 20 points and controlled the tempo like a seasoned pro.
📖 Related: Formula One Points Table Explained: Why the Math Matters More Than the Racing
UConn became the first team since Florida in 2007 to go back-to-back. They’ve now got six titles since 1999. Think about that. That is more than Duke, more than Kansas, and more than Kentucky in that same span. They aren't just a "powerhouse" anymore; they are the gold standard of the modern era.
The Perfect Season: South Carolina’s Revenge Tour
On the women's side, the question of who won NCAA basketball championship 2024 leads you to one of the greatest teams ever assembled. South Carolina finished 38-0. Zero losses.
They took down Iowa 87-75 in the final on April 7, 2024.
This was the ultimate redemption story. A year prior, Caitlin Clark and Iowa had bounced South Carolina in the Final Four, ruining their perfect season. In 2024, Dawn Staley wasn’t having it. Even though Clark started the game on fire—scoring 18 points in the first quarter alone—the Gamecocks’ depth was just too much.
👉 See also: El Paso Locomotive FC Standings: Why the 2025 Surge Changes Everything for 2026
Why South Carolina Was Unstoppable
- The Bench: South Carolina’s bench outscored Iowa’s bench 37-0. That’s the game right there.
- Kamilla Cardoso: She was a force of nature, racking up 15 points and 17 rebounds. She took home the MOP honors for a reason.
- Tessa Johnson: A freshman coming off the bench to lead the team with 19 points in the biggest game of her life? Kinda legendary.
What Most People Forget About the 2024 Finals
Everyone talks about Edey and Clark, but the real story was the defense. UConn’s Donovan Clingan didn't need to outscore Edey; he just needed to exist in the paint and make life difficult. On the women's side, Raven Johnson’s defensive pressure on Caitlin Clark in the second half of the final was the "quiet" reason the Gamecocks pulled away.
Also, can we talk about the attendance? Over 74,000 people showed up for the men’s final in Glendale. The energy was electric, even if the game itself felt like a slow-motion car crash for Purdue fans once UConn’s 11-4 second-half run started.
Actionable Insights for the 2025/2026 Seasons
If you're a bettor or a hardcore fan trying to predict the next winner based on what happened in 2024, keep these factors in mind.
First, depth is king. In the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) and transfer portal era, teams that can play 9 or 10 deep without a drop in quality—like South Carolina—are almost impossible to beat in a tournament format.
✨ Don't miss: Duke Football Recruiting 2025: Manny Diaz Just Flipped the Script in Durham
Second, coaching continuity matters. Dan Hurley and Dawn Staley have built cultures that transcend individual stars. When a star player leaves for the WNBA or NBA, the "system" remains.
Finally, keep an eye on the "Mid-Major" sleepers. While UConn and South Carolina took the trophies, 2024 saw runs from teams like NC State (who made both the Men’s and Women’s Final Four). The gap is closing, but the top is still guarded by giants.
To stay ahead of the curve, start tracking the defensive efficiency ratings on KenPom or HerHoopStats early in the season. Teams that win the NCAA basketball championship almost always rank in the top 20 for both offensive and defensive efficiency. It's the most reliable "tell" for a deep March Madness run.