Honestly, March Madness is usually about the chaos—the 15-seeds that ruin everyone's brackets and the mid-major schools nobody heard of three weeks ago suddenly becoming national darlings. But if you’re looking at who won the ncaa tournament last year, 2025 was a bit of a different beast. It was the year of the heavyweights.
Florida and UConn. Those are the names you need to remember. One program reminded everyone that "Gator Greatness" wasn't just a mid-2000s fever dream, and the other proved that Geno Auriemma might actually be a wizard.
The Florida Gators' Gritty Return to the Top
If you're asking about the men's side, the Florida Gators are the ones holding the trophy. They took down the Houston Cougars 65-63 in a game that was, frankly, a total defensive grind. It wasn't always pretty. In fact, for a good chunk of the second half, it looked like Kelvin Sampson and Houston were finally going to get that elusive ring.
Florida trailed by as many as 12 points.
They looked rattled. The Gators' bench even picked up a technical foul during a messy stretch of officiating. But Todd Golden, at just 39 years old, kept his cool. He’s now the youngest coach to win it all since Jim Valvano did his famous dash across the court in '83.
How the Final Minutes Went Down
Walter Clayton Jr. was the hero, though he didn't even score until there were about 15 minutes left in the game. He ended up with 11 points and the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) award, but his real contribution was a defensive play that will be replayed in Gainesville forever.
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With seconds left and Florida up by two, Houston's Emanuel Sharp tried to rise up for a game-winning three. Clayton basically teleported in front of him. Sharp got spooked, lost his handle on the ball, and it just bounced there on the hardwood while the clock bled out.
- Final Score: Florida 65, Houston 63
- Venue: Alamodome, San Antonio
- Top Scorer for Florida: Will Richard (18 points)
- The "X" Factor: Free throws. Florida went 17-for-21. Houston? Only 9-for-14.
It was Florida's third title overall and their first since the Billy Donovan era back-to-back years of 2006 and 2007.
UConn Women: The 12-Carat Gold Standard
Switching over to the women's tournament, the question of who won the ncaa tournament last year has a very familiar answer: the UConn Huskies.
After a nine-year "drought" (which is hilarious by any other school's standards), UConn reminded the world that they are still the undisputed capital of college basketball. They didn't just win; they absolutely dismantled South Carolina 82-59 in the final.
Think about that for a second. Dawn Staley's Gamecocks were the titans of the sport, and UConn beat them by 23 points in the biggest game of the year.
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The Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers Show
Paige Bueckers is obviously the household name—and she was great with 17 points—but Azzi Fudd was the lightning bolt. Fudd dropped 24 points and took home the MOP trophy. It felt like a "we're back" statement for a program that had been plagued by injuries for several seasons.
Freshman Sarah Strong also showed up huge with 24 points of her own. When you have a freshman playing like a ten-year pro on the biggest stage, you’re basically impossible to beat.
UConn's win marked their 12th national title. 12! That moves them past everyone else in the history of the sport. Geno Auriemma now has more rings than he has fingers.
Why the 2025 Tournament Felt Different
Usually, we talk about the Cinderellas. 2025 didn't have a lot of them.
The Men's Final Four was actually all No. 1 seeds: Florida, Houston, Duke, and Auburn. That almost never happens. People were sort of complaining that the "Madness" was missing, but the quality of basketball was insane. All three Final Four games were decided by six points or fewer.
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On the women's side, UConn was actually a No. 2 seed, which made them a "technical" underdog against South Carolina. But let’s be real—nobody actually considers UConn an underdog.
Key Stats from the 2025 Runs
| Category | Men's Champion (Florida) | Women's Champion (UConn) |
|---|---|---|
| Final Opponent | Houston Cougars | South Carolina Gamecocks |
| MOP Winner | Walter Clayton Jr. | Azzi Fudd |
| Winning Margin | 2 Points | 23 Points |
| Coach | Todd Golden | Geno Auriemma |
What Most People Forget About the 2025 Bracket
You've probably forgotten that the road to the title was almost cut short for both teams.
Florida almost lost to an 8-seed UConn (the men's team) in the second round. They escaped with a 77-75 win. If a couple of bounces go the other way in March, Todd Golden is just another coach watching the Sweet 16 from his couch.
Similarly, the UConn women had to survive a tough bracket where UCLA and Texas were looking like legitimate threats to the throne.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re looking to follow the momentum of these teams into the current season, here is what you should keep an eye on:
- Watch the Transfer Portal: Florida lost Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin to the pros, so they've been aggressive in the portal to stay relevant.
- The Sarah Strong Era: Since she’s only a sophomore now, the UConn women are essentially the favorites to repeat.
- Betting Trends: Historically, teams that lose in the final (like Houston) tend to have a "revenge tour" the following year. Keep them on your radar for your 2026 brackets.
Now that you're caught up on who won the ncaa tournament last year, you can see that the power balance in college hoops has shifted back to the traditional giants—even if the coaches' faces are a little newer. Florida is no longer a "football school" that occasionally plays hoops, and UConn? Well, UConn is just doing UConn things.
Check the current AP Top 25 rankings to see if Florida or UConn are still holding onto those top spots before you place any bets on this year's tournament.