Though it’s easy in Connecticut to see UConn women’s basketball as “star-crossed” in the recent years, with all the injuries and excruciating losses in March Madness, the outside world sees the Huskies as star-studded.

The UConn Huskies defeated the University of Southern California Trojans in the women's Elite Eight on Monday to advance to their 24th program Final Four, the most in NCAA tournament history across either bracket.

Among the Trojans' 28 victories was a tightly contested, 72-70 win over UConn in December. Watkins was the star of the game, leading all scorers with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

Paige Bueckers carried UConn to its record 24th Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament, scoring 31 points Monday night in a 78-64 victory over Southern California, which couldn’t overcome the loss of injured star JuJu Watkins.

Behind 31 points and six assists, Paige Bueckers lifted No. 2 seed UConn to a 78-64 win over No. 1 seed USC in the Spokane 4 regional final, clinching the team's 16th Final Four appearance in 17 years and 24th overall.

Bueckers got back plenty in that game for herself and her teammates, smoothed over the rough patches and was the player who, whenever Auriemma was too deep into the team’s mistakes, could draw him back.

The No. 2 Huskies downed No. 1 USC 78-64 in the Elite Eight on Monday as the Trojans were without star JuJu Watkins, who suffered a torn ACL in the Round of 32. The Final Four appearance is the 24th for the Huskies, the most of any program in women's college basketball history.

UConn's Paige Bueckers, UCLA's Lauren Betts, Texas' Madison Booker, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo and USC's JuJu Watkins are the finalists for the Wooden Award.

Freshman Sarah Strong added 22 points and 17 rebounds for the second-seeded Huskies, who have won a record 11 NCAA titles, all under coach Geno Auriemma.