UConn sophomore sensation KK Arnold got tongues wagging after her intense stare-down with South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley during the national championship match. She’s now opened up about the much-discussed moment.

Arnold, whose role in the Huskies squad escalated last season, captured the national title with UConn following their resounding 82-59 victory against the Gamecocks in the ultimate showdown. While Paige Bueckers’ emotional hug with the legendary coach Geno Auriemma made waves, Arnold’s fiery gaze became a hot topic on social media.

Confronting Fulwiley in the game’s closing quarter, Arnold breezed by and nailed a layup. Commenting on that fierce encounter, she said there’s absolutely no ill will but conceded it marked the fiercest point of her college career up to that point.

Off the court after wrapping up her second year, Arnold showed out at Kelsey Plum’s ‘Dawg’ camp designed to prep women athletes for pro hoops ahead of schedule. Titled ‘Top Dawg’ at the camp, Arnold reflected on her peak ‘dawg’ moment at college thus far.

“I’d say the championship game, when we played South Carolina,” Arnold shared with BRW Sports. “That was like a fun game for me and my teammates, just like the whole entire game was fun. So yeah.”

Arnold opened up about her exchange with Fulwiley and confessed: “I ain’t gonna lie, my emotions just got caught up and just in the moment, after the layup I just looked… But in the moment I’m like ‘It’s game time.’ That type of look, yeah.”

Despite the intense on-court moment, Arnold is on good terms with Fulwiley, clarifying that there was no ill-intent behind her gaze. “No. But me and Lay, I know Lay, so we cool,” Arnold stated.

She is gearing up for her junior year at UConn, while Fulwiley has decided to explore new horizons by entering the transfer portal after two seasons with South Carolina.

Fulwiley leaves behind a legacy as a national champion from her freshman year with the Gamecocks and being their second-highest scorer in her sophomore year with an average of 11.7 points. While she primarily played off the bench for Dawn Staley’s team, there were hints of her aspirations to start before she announced her decision to transfer.

The 5-foot-10 guard experienced reduced playing time as the season progressed, influencing her choice to seek a transfer. Yet, Fulwiley cleared the air about any possible discord with coach Staley, albeit implying the need for more court time for her development.

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“I think my growth has been tremendous,” Fulwiley expressed. “I think I’ve grown in lots of places where I didn’t even know I could grow in. I’m just glad to be here in a program where the coaches are kind of very open and very direct with what they want and what they need from each and every one of us.”

Speaking on her future aspirations, Fulwiley said: “I think I kind of just took what they were saying, and I had to understand that it’s either I do it or I don’t. I felt like I wanted to do it.

“It’s been working for me lately. So the standard that Dawn has set here is great, and I think every player should want to play under this standard. It just brings out the best in each and every one of us, and I think it definitely brings out the best in me.”