The Game They’ll Never Forget: When Kentucky Women’s Basketball Stunned No. 1 South Carolina
It was March 6, 2022 — a date forever etched in Kentucky Wildcats women’s basketball history. In a shocking, emotional, and unforgettable SEC Tournament Final, the Wildcats pulled off one of the biggest upsets in program history, defeating the undefeated, No. 1-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks 64–62 to capture their first SEC Tournament title since 1982. What made the moment even more unforgettable? It was Kentucky’s own Rhyne Howard’s last tournament game in a Wildcats jersey.
Coming into the championship, Kentucky wasn’t supposed to be there. They had struggled earlier in the season, barely sneaking into the tournament picture. South Carolina, led by legendary coach Dawn Staley, was dominant all year — a powerhouse expected to roll through the SEC and into the NCAA tournament untouched. But Kentucky had other plans.
The star of the day wasn’t just Howard — although her leadership and all-around brilliance were felt throughout. It was Dre’una Edwards, who hit the game-winning three-pointer with just five seconds left on the clock. Her dagger from the top of the key silenced the Gamecocks crowd and sent the Kentucky bench into chaos. Fans watching at home and in the arena couldn’t believe what had just happened.
“This is what Kentucky basketball is all about,” said head coach Kyra Elzy moments after the buzzer. “We’ve been counted out, doubted, disrespected — and now, we’re champions.”
Social media exploded within minutes. Former players, NBA stars, and even John Calipari himself tweeted their pride and admiration for the team. The win didn’t just shock South Carolina — it inspired a new generation of Kentucky fans and proved that UK women’s basketball belonged on the national stage.
For Rhyne Howard, the All-American and projected top WNBA draft pick, it was a fitting exclamation mark on a historic career. She finished with 18 points and held her composure throughout the final quarter, guiding her team like the superstar she was. That tournament win became a signature moment not just in her legacy — but in the legacy of the program itself.
Even now, fans replay the final minutes of that game on YouTube, reliving the magic, the intensity, the tears. “That wasn’t just a win,” said one longtime season ticket holder. “That was a turning point — the night the nation finally saw what Kentucky women’s basketball is made of.”
Though the team would fall short in the NCAA tournament weeks later, the SEC championship remains one of the proudest moments in program history. It was a declaration of belief — in each other, in their coach, and in the power of perseverance.
Years from now, when fans talk about the greatest moments in Kentucky sports, they won’t forget 2022. Not because of how the season started, but because of how it ended — with a shot, a scream, and a celebration that turned underdogs into legends.
