THEY SAID WE COULDN’T — So We Did: Kentucky Women Shock the Nation –
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.
Kentucky Women Shock the Nation in SEC Tournament Final
A Date Etched in Big Blue History
On March 6, 2022, in Nashville, the Kentucky Wildcats not only topped their season—they stunned the college basketball world. Facing the undefeated, top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks, Kentucky pulled off the most spectacular upset in program history: a 64–62 victory to clinch their first SEC Tournament crown since 1982 .
From Underdogs to Champions
Bracket-positioned seventh seed, Kentucky entered the tournament as heavy underdogs and had to win four consecutive games to reach the final—the first time in SEC tourney history a team defeated the top three seeds en route to the title .
They stunned LSU, toppled Tennessee, and then pulled off the seismic upset against South Carolina, ending the Gamecocks’ dominant 18-game conference win streak .
💥 The Game-Winner that Changed Everything
With just 4.2 seconds left, junior guard Dre’una Edwards rose to the occasion, drilling a top-of-the-key three to break South Carolina’s heart and seal Kentucky’s iconic win .
> “I had to let it fly,” Edwards recalled, while coach Kyra Elzy sprinted down the sideline even before the shot dropped .
🌟 Star Performances in the Spotlight
Dre’una Edwards: 27 points total, with 12 in the fourth—and the championship breaker .
Rhyne Howard: Quietly efficient with 18 points, anchored by poise and leadership .
Team Resilience: Entered the tournament at 9‑11 overall, 2‑8 in SEC play—Kentucky turned it around with a ten-game winning streak to seal a spot in the NCAA Tournament .
🏟️ The Ripple Effect
The broadcast was electric: Kentucky hadn’t reached the SEC championship game since 2014, and the win ignited a campus-wide euphoria .
Post-game, Dawn Staley, South Carolina’s legendary coach, praised Kentucky’s resilience:
> “They’re hot. They’re streaking… super happy for Kyra and her program” .
🔄 How It Reshaped the Legacy
SEC Tournament Title #2: Kentucky’s only other women’s SEC Tournament win came back in 1982, in Rupp Arena .
Program Confidence: This run galvanized the Wildcats’ postseason push, cemented Coach Elzy’s credibility, and changed the national perception of Kentucky women’s basketball .
🌈 Why It Still Matters
Big Blue for All: That shot—off the fingertips of Edwards, into the net—was more than a game-winner. It was a message: Kentucky women belong on the biggest stages.
Underdog Spirit: From a sub-.500 team to SEC champions in less than a month—it’s a story of resilience, belief, and collective heart.
Legacy Reborn: It wasn’t just a win; it reignited a proud yet dormant tradition and brought national prominence back to Lexington’s hardwood.
🏁 Final Take
They said it couldn’t be done. They said Kentucky women didn’t have it in them. But that night, the Wildcats answered—shouting in living color that Big Blue Nation is more than men’s basketball. It’s grit. It’s heart. It’s legend.
And while the 2025 tournament didn’t repeat that magic—South Carolina reclaimed the crown in Greenville —nothing can erase March 6, 2022: the night Kentucky women rewrote their history and shocked an entire nation.
Basketball is more than final scores. It’s moments like these—flawed, electric, unforgettable—that define who we are. And on that night, Kentucky Women didn’t just win, they soared.
