Summary

The South Carolina Gamecocks completed a perfect 38-0 season by defeating Iowa 87-75 to win the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship. It was their third title in seven years, cementing their status as a dynasty under coach Dawn Staley who joined an elite group with at least three national titles. Despite Caitlin Clark becoming the all-time leading scorer in Division I basketball, the Gamecocks' depth and defense proved too much for Iowa. The tournament capped an outstanding season that helped grow interest in women's basketball, with the Iowa-UConn Final Four game setting a viewership record.

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The South Carolina Gamecocks have engraved their name in history by claiming their third-ever Women's NCAA National Championship.

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The Gamecocks capped off an undefeated 38-0 season with an epic 87-75 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes, who were the previous NCAA National runners-up and boasted the projected first overall pick, Caitlin Clark. The game was a clash of titans, with 6'7" forward Kamilla Cardoso leading the Gamecocks to their hard-fought triumph.

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Although the final score indicated a double-digit margin, the game was a nail-biting, back-and-forth affair until the very end. The Hawkeyes seized an early 7-point lead in the first quarter, fueled by Clark's 13 consecutive points and a mesmerizing from the logo deep three-pointer midway through the period. However, the Gamecocks refused to let Clark's Curry-like shooting ability intimidate them, rallying to take a 49-46 lead at halftime in a high-scoring opening half.

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From that point onward, the Gamecocks never gave the lead back. While Iowa threatened to tie the game on multiple occasions, Cardoso's defensive masterclass and Te-Hina Paopao's impressive shooting skills guided the squad to victory.

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Cardoso's 15 points and 17 rebounds exemplified her status as a projected top-5 draft pick, complemented by Chloe Kitts' 11 points and Paopao's 14-point contribution.

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Although Iowa scored nearly half as many points in the second half, Clark ended her collegiate career as the all-time leading scorer in Division I men's or women's basketball history with 3,951 points. However, her individual brilliance was not enough to overcome South Carolina's depth and defensive tenacity, as the Gamecocks solidified their status as a dynasty with their third national title in seven tournaments.

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Although Iowa scored nearly half as many points in the second half, they competed until the final whistle. Clark, the game's high scorer with 30 points while playing the entire contest, broke the record for most career points in the NCAA Tournament. Kate Martin chipped in with 16 points, helping keep Iowa in the hunt.

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The evening culminated with South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley shedding tears of joy over her team's accomplishment. Now joining an elite group of Division I women's basketball coaches with three or more NCAA titles, alongside legends like Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey, and Tara VanDerveer.

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This year's Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament was truly one for the ages, highlighting the growing movement to spotlight women's sports. In Iowa's Final Four game against UConn, the matchup shattered records by becoming the most-watched basketball game ever aired on ESPN, with an average of 14.2 million viewers tuned in, surpassing the previous record of 13.51 million viewers for Game 7 of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics.

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Congratulations to the The Women’s South Carolina Gamecock team!

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South Carolina claims NCAA championship over Clark, Iowa | ESPN

South Carolina defeats Iowa 87-75 to win national championship and complete perfect season | NCAA

Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA Tournament career scoring record in Iowa's national championship game | Des Moines Register