The South Carolina Gamecocks, with an impeccable record, emerged victorious over Iowa on Sunday with a score of 87-75 in the NCAA women's championship.
The Gamecocks' triumph marked the end of Caitlin Clark's final game at Iowa. In a remarkable achievement, Clark surpassed the long-standing record of the late Pete Maravich to become the all-time NCAA Division I scoring leader back in February. She contributed 30 points to her team's effort on Sunday.
Entering Sunday's game with a perfect 37-0 record, South Carolina secured their place in history as the first undefeated champion since UConn in 2016. This victory marked their second national championship in three years and their third overall in school history, as reported by CBS Sports.
Under the guidance of Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks executed a relentless game plan, joining the elite ranks of Division I teams to complete a season without a single loss. This remarkable achievement came after losing all five starters from the previous season's team that was defeated by Clark's Iowa squad in the national semifinals.
Despite Clark's outstanding performance in an attempt to lead the Hawkeyes to their first championship, the Gamecocks proved too strong. Clark, with 30 points to her name, including a championship-record 18 in the first quarter, solidified her legacy as one of the greatest players in NCAA history. Her exceptional career at Iowa (34-5) culminated in her becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history with an impressive 3,951 career points.
Her hope is that her impact will be remembered not for the losses in two NCAA championship games, but for the multitude of new fans she attracted to the sport and the countless young girls and boys she motivated.
Over the past eight years, South Carolina has secured three national titles, including two out of the last three, solidifying their status as the latest powerhouse in women's basketball. Staley now joins a prestigious group of coaches - Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey, and Tara VanDerveer - as the fifth coach to win three national championships. The Gamecocks, boasting a remarkable record of 109 wins in their last 112 games, achieved the feat of going undefeated for the first time since UConn in 2016. Despite facing challenges during the season, South Carolina consistently found ways to emerge victorious.
With the majority of the team set to return next season, with the exception of standout center Kamilla Cardoso, Staley's squad is well-positioned to sustain their success. Tessa Johnson led South Carolina with 19 points in the championship game, while Cardoso contributed 15 points and 17 rebounds.
