In the world of basketball, where dominance is currency and streaks are king, the UCLA Bruins decided to play the role of Robin Hood and rob the South Carolina Gamecocks blind. Their victim? A 43-game winning streak. Their accomplice? Fresh-faced Finnish phenom Elina Aarnisalo.
The Gamecocks, led by the ever-fiery Dawn Staley, rolled into this matchup as untouchable as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. That was until UCLA decided to hand them their largest loss since 2019—a 77-62 smackdown that sent shockwaves through the basketball universe.
Dawn Staley’s Post-Mortem: Praise and Pain
Staley, who usually spends post-game pressers dissecting opponents’ weaknesses, found herself singing praises about a certain Bruin. “Elina [Aarnisalo] did a really great job,” Staley admitted, though probably through gritted teeth. “She was fun to watch on film, but I was really hoping she’d come off the bench and play less. Turns out, she was really, really impressive.”
Translation: “We underestimated her, and now we’re paying for it in viral memes and ESPN highlight reels.”
Enter Rae Burrell: One Word, Big Vibes
LA Sparks guard Rae Burrell, who knows a thing or two about making waves, took to Instagram to shout out the 18-year-old sensation. Her commentary? A succinct yet savage “tufff 🤝🏿,” giving Aarnisalo her well-deserved flowers.
Burrell, whose own basketball journey has been a rollercoaster of injuries, comebacks, and now thriving with the Sparks, knows talent when she sees it. And clearly, Aarnisalo’s 27-minute performance, featuring a cool 13 points, 4 assists, and some jaw-dropping court vision, was worthy of the shoutout.
Londynn Jones: UCLA’s Secret Weapon
But wait, there’s more! Londynn Jones, coming off the bench like she was shot out of a cannon, dropped 15 points in just 19 minutes, including a Steph Curry-esque 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. If the Gamecocks didn’t see that coming, they clearly weren’t paying attention to the scouting report.
A Loss for the History Books
This wasn’t just any loss for the Gamecocks—it was their biggest defeat as an AP No. 1-ranked team in over four years. For context, that’s like seeing a thoroughbred trip at the starting gate. South Carolina hadn’t taken an “L” this brutal since their 2023 Final Four heartbreak, and the sports world has noticed.
Rae Burrell’s Next Move: Unrivaled Ambitions
Meanwhile, Burrell’s basketball journey is heating up as she gears up for the inaugural “Unrivaled” 3×3 league in January. After a breakout WNBA season averaging 5.9 points and showing flashes of brilliance, the Sparks guard is looking to sharpen her skills against elite competition. And hey, who doesn’t like a little extra cash on the side?
So, what’s next for UCLA? Can they ride this momentum, or was this just a Cinderella moment against the Gamecocks? And for South Carolina, will this loss light a fire under them or expose cracks in the armor?
Only time—and maybe another cryptic Rae Burrell Instagram story—will tell.
