Gamecocks’ Destanni Henderson Delivered an All-Time Great National Championship Game Performance That Cemented Her Legacy in South Carolina Lore

On the grandest stage in college basketball, where legacies are solidified and names etched into history, Destanni Henderson rose to the moment with a performance so electrifying, it’s still being talked about in South Carolina circles today. The Gamecocks guard didn’t just show up in the national championship game—she took over.

It was April 3, 2022. South Carolina faced off against the powerhouse UConn Huskies, led by the legendary Geno Auriemma and the nation’s top scorer, Paige Bueckers. The spotlight was massive, the stakes even bigger. Most eyes were on Bueckers, and even on South Carolina’s dominant post presence, Aliyah Boston. But by the final whistle, no one was talking more than they were about Destanni Henderson.

This wasn’t just a big game. This was a moment where Henderson introduced herself as a household name to casual fans and confirmed what those in Columbia already knew—she was built for pressure, wired for greatness, and ready to carry her team when it mattered most.

Henderson poured in a career-high 26 points on an efficient 9-of-20 from the field, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. She added 4 assists, 3 steals, and did all of it while being tasked with defending some of UConn’s top weapons. Her scoring was timely, her defense relentless, and her leadership unmatched. It wasn’t just a strong performance—it was transcendent.

What made Henderson’s showing even more spectacular was how she imposed her will from the opening tip. She knocked down a three early to give South Carolina a jolt of momentum and never looked back. Every time UConn tried to make a run, there she was—driving to the basket with precision, pulling up from midrange with confidence, and orchestrating the offense like a seasoned maestro.

Many expected the game to be a defensive slugfest, and it was in many ways. But Henderson was the exception. Her offensive brilliance unlocked the Gamecocks’ rhythm. UConn simply had no answer. In fact, Henderson’s performance was so dominant that it created mismatches all over the court, freeing up space for her teammates and keeping the Huskies on their heels all night.

While the national spotlight often shines brightest on the dominant post players or prolific scorers with hype all season long, it’s nights like these that prove how valuable a steady, fearless, and explosive point guard can be. Henderson was everything South Carolina needed. She was composed when others were jittery, vocal when others were silent, and scorching hot when others struggled to find the bottom of the net.

It wasn’t just about numbers for Destanni either. Her leadership was evident in every huddle, every gesture to calm her teammates, every possession she directed. It’s one thing to play well—it’s another to lead with confidence and poise when a national title is on the line.

And perhaps what made it all the more inspiring was her journey. Henderson, a native of Fort Myers, Florida, came to South Carolina with dreams of making a difference. She wasn’t always the loudest star in the media, nor the one with the biggest NIL deals. But she was always the one putting in the work, staying loyal to her program, and waiting for her moment. That moment came in the national championship game—and she seized it.

Head coach Dawn Staley, who has always valued toughness, resilience, and leadership, saw in Henderson what others are now only realizing. After the game, Staley praised her point guard for her poise and ability to control the tempo. “She was locked in. She wanted this moment, and she didn’t shy away from it,” Staley said. “Destanni was the engine tonight. She was the difference.”

Indeed, Henderson was different. In an era where the game often focuses on flash, she brought grit. Where some fold under the weight of pressure, she elevated her play. In many ways, she was the perfect embodiment of what South Carolina basketball has become under Staley’s leadership: fearless, selfless, and unrelenting.

The win marked South Carolina’s second national title, and while Aliyah Boston was the centerpiece all season long (and deservedly so), it was Henderson who emerged as the X-factor in the title-clinching game. Her career-high performance was not just a fluke; it was the culmination of years of hard work, belief, and preparation.

Destanni Henderson’s performance in the 2022 national championship game should be remembered among the greatest individual title game showings in NCAA women’s basketball history. Her 26-point explosion was the most by a Gamecock in a championship game, and it came against one of the most storied programs in all of college sports.

After the game, Henderson was mobbed by teammates. The joy on her face said it all. This was her final collegiate game, and she couldn’t have scripted a better ending. To go out on top, playing the best game of your life, under the brightest lights, is the kind of storybook ending players dream about.

But Henderson’s legacy at South Carolina goes far beyond one night. She was a steadying force for the Gamecocks through years of growth and battles. She helped navigate the team through the challenges of the COVID-19 era, tough SEC battles, and tournament disappointments. She was there for the heartbreak of falling short in 2021, and she came back with a vengeance to make sure 2022 had a different ending.

And for young girls watching around the country—especially young guards wondering if there’s room for them on teams dominated by size—Henderson’s brilliance offered inspiration. She proved that intelligence, speed, and heart can be just as powerful as height and power.

The moment the final buzzer sounded, confetti raining down in Minneapolis, Henderson had cemented herself as a South Carolina legend. Not just for what she did statistically, but for how she did it—with grace, fire, and unshakable confidence.

In the WNBA, Henderson’s impact is already being felt. Drafted by the Indiana Fever, she brings the same energy, playmaking, and defensive intensity to the next level. But no matter where her professional journey takes her, her night in Minneapolis will always stand as a defining moment—not just in her career, but in the history of South Carolina basketball.

It’s rare that a performance can both win a title and alter a narrative. But Henderson did both. She shifted the spotlight, rewrote expectations, and left a legacy that will echo in Colonial Life Arena forever.

For South Carolina fans, that night will be remembered as the culmination of a dream season. But for those who watched closely, it will also be remembered as the night Destanni Henderson became more than a player. She became a Gamecock icon.

She was, in a word, different. And that difference made all the difference.