The story of how Dawn Staley and South Carolina secured the women’s national championship victory over Caitlin Clark and Iowa.
Dawn Staley and South Carolina have achieved another remarkable feat.
For the first time since 2016, the NCAA has crowned an undefeated national champion in the form of the Gamecocks. South Carolina concluded its flawless season (38-0) with an 87-75 victory over Iowa, seeking redemption for last year’s Final Four defeat that halted their undefeated streak.
Throughout the season, South Carolina’s depth has been a standout factor, and this was evident once again on Sunday. The Gamecocks boasted four players scoring in double figures, led by Tessa Johnson with 19 points. Star center Kamilla Cardoso contributed 15 points and 17 rebounds, while Te-Hina Paopao and Chloe Kitts added 14 and 11 points, respectively, with Kitts also securing 10 rebounds. Although guards Raven Johnson and Bree Hall didn’t reach double figures in scoring, their defensive efforts were crucial in attempting to contain Iowa’s standout player, Caitlin Clark, who managed 30 points on 10-of-28 shooting, including a scoring burst of 13 points within two minutes in the first quarter.
Iowa stormed to an early lead, opening the game with a 10-0 run within the first two and a half minutes and extending their lead to 20-9 with Clark’s 13 consecutive points.
The Gamecocks found themselves in a familiar situation, trailing by nine at the end of the first quarter, reminiscent of last year’s Final Four. However, they staged a comeback of their own, taking a three-point lead at halftime.
South Carolina stretched their lead to 14 points in the fourth quarter, but Iowa mounted a comeback, narrowing the deficit to five with 3:37 remaining, led by Clark and Sydney Affolter. Nevertheless, South Carolina regained a double-digit lead shortly after, securing Staley her second championship in three years.
For Iowa and Clark, this marks the end of an era as Clark prepares for the WNBA Draft. Despite falling short in NCAA championship appearances, Clark’s legacy as one of the sport’s greatest scorers is undeniable. She set a new NCAA Tournament record with 492 points scored in 17 career tournament games, surpassing the all-time mark in the first quarter of Sunday’s game.
