Runner-up Sophi Balerdi of "Survivor 49" revealed that several jury members informed her after the final tribal council that the vote was extremely close between her and winner Savannah Louie. Balerdi stated that if Rizo Velovic had made it to the final three instead of Louie, she would have won the season. She recalled Louie even telling her before the votes were read, "You just won the game." Balerdi felt she could have presented a stronger case for her game, highlighting her pre-merge performance and her work on various votes, especially if she had won an immunity challenge against Rizo.
Balerdi and Louie, along with Sage Ahrens-Nichols, reached the final three. Louie ultimately won with five jury votes, while Balerdi received two and Ahrens-Nichols received one. Balerdi acknowledged that she didn't feel confident facing Louie, who had won multiple immunities and the fire-making challenge, admitting it was an uphill battle. She also contemplated participating in the final four firemaking challenge to eliminate Louie but ultimately decided against it, gambling on the possibility of Rizo winning the fire challenge. Despite the outcome, Balerdi expressed pride in her game and the paths she saw to victory.