In a thrilling NCAA championship game, the South Carolina Gamecocks capped off a perfect 38-0 season with an 87-75 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Led by Kamilla Cardoso, who had 15 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, the Gamecocks secured their third national title in the past eight years.
Despite Caitlin Clark's impressive performance for Iowa, scoring 30 points and setting a championship record with 18 points in the first quarter, the Gamecocks proved to be too much for the Hawkeyes. South Carolina's dominant rebounding and depth, with Tessa Johnson contributing 19 points and the bench outscoring Iowa's reserves 37-0, ultimately sealed their victory.
The game was marked by several crucial runs, including an 11-0 run by South Carolina spanning halftime to take the lead and an eight-point run in response to Iowa closing the gap in the third quarter. The Gamecocks' improved shooting from behind the arc, going 8 for 19 on 3-pointers, also played a key role in their success.
As the game concluded, Clark, who became the career leading scorer in NCAA Division I history with 3,951 points, left the court amidst confetti and applause. South Carolina's coach, Dawn Staley, praised Clark for her contributions to the sport and expressed confidence in her team's future success with most players returning next season.
With this victory, the Gamecocks solidify their status as a women's basketball dynasty, joining the ranks of other successful programs like UConn. Staley's leadership and the team's unwavering belief and trust in each other were credited as key factors in their historic season. The Gamecocks' remarkable journey to an undefeated season will surely be remembered as a significant milestone in women's college basketball.