For the second year in a row, Iowa fell in the last hurdle to the NCAA glory, losing in the Championship match. If last year it was Angel Reese and the LSU, now it was the South Carolina Gamecocks, led by a fierce center Kamilla Cardoso and coach Dawn Staley.
Caitlin Clark actually did a great game, playing 40 minutes and scoring 30 points. She also completed 8 rebounds and 5 assists, but it was not enough as the Hawkeyes lost 87-75, being completely outplayed in the last 2 quarters.
This was the last dance for Clark and the Hawkeyes, as the Des Moines point guard is heading to the WNBA where she is expected to be no. 1 draft pick by Indiana Fever.
Pre-Game: What Was Expected Before The Start Of The NCAA Championship Game?
Sportsbooks like ClutchBuzz had Iowa as a slight favorite for this game, considering the Clark effect and also the potential absence of Kamilla Cardoso who had injured herself during final four game.
However, the Brazilian center recovered in time for the final and proved to be one of the best players in the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, where the NCAA game was played. Kamilla scored 15 points, but the real difference she made was near the ring, completing 17 rebounds.
This proved to be the difference, as Clark was the only one completing more than 7 rebounds for the Hawkeyes. The Gamecocks were able to exploit this weakness of the Iowa team and even though they entered the game losing by 11 points, they finished it completely on top of Iowa who were down in the game since the end of 2nd quarter and never recovered.
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) runs down a loose ball between South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) and center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the first half of the Final Four college basketball championship game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
South Carolina Does The Unthinkable: 38-0 Means They End The Season Undefeated
Last year South Carolina were undefeated when they faced Iowa in the final four of March Madness 2023, only to be surprised by Clark and the Hawkeyes. Well, coach Dawn Staley took it personally, rebuilt the team and once again the Gamecocks reached the final stage of the NCAA undefeated.
Their last obstacle was the team who had stopped their perfect season in 2023: Iowa. This time the Gamecocks were prepared and they absolutely cruised through Iowa and there was nothing Caitlin Clark could do.
Since at least 2000, South Carolina achieved a historic feat by becoming the first team to win a title without any primary starters returning from the previous season’s Final Four squad.
🏆 @GamecockWBB ARE YOUR 2024 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 🏆 #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/dVDcRhhou0
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 7, 2024
Kamilla Cardoso: Another Name To Generate Buzz In The WNBA
If all headlines talk about Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese as the future of WNBA, there is another name that needs to start being part of this equation: Kamilla Cardoso. The Brazilian center has proved as an absolutely brilliant player for the Gamecocks and an essential piece for their undefeated season.
Kamilla Cardoso, named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, recorded 15 points and a career-best 17 rebounds, joining a select group of players to achieve at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in a championship game over the past 25 seasons. As she heads into the draft, widely anticipated to be an early pick, Cardoso stands out as the lone key contributor for South Carolina not returning for the upcoming season.
Coach Staley praised Cardoso’s pivotal role, emphasizing her determination throughout the NCAA tournament despite playing through injury. He highlighted her performance as reflective of a top WNBA draft prospect. Additionally, Staley noted the unique support from Cardoso’s teammates, who ensured her departure as a national champion, marking a historic moment for the program.
Cardoso’s contributions were instrumental in South Carolina’s dominance, particularly evidenced by their commanding 51-29 rebound advantage over the Hawkeyes, resulting in 30 second-chance points.
End Of An Era: Iowa and Caitlin Clark Part Ways As She Leaves To WNBA
After another year so close to the NCAA championship Clark expressed her disappointment to ESPN: “The biggest thing is it’s really hard to win these things,” she said. “I think I know that better than most people by now. To be so close twice really hurts.”
Caitlin Clark concluded her tenure in Iowa City with Iowa’s defeat against South Carolina in the 2024 women’s national championship game.
Clark achieved numerous milestones during her career in Iowa. On February 15, 2024, she became the all-time leading scorer in Division I women’s basketball with a remarkable long-range three-pointer against Michigan.
Shortly after, on March 3, she surpassed “Pistol Pete” Maravich to claim the Division I scoring title across genders. Just five days later, she broke Stephen Curry’s NCAA single-season 3-pointer record against Penn State.
Later in the season, Clark broke the single-season scoring record in Division I women’s basketball during the second round of the 2024 NCAA tournament. Furthermore, she surpassed Diana Taurasi’s record for the most career three-pointers in women’s NCAA tournament history against LSU in the Elite Eight.
Throughout her time at Iowa, Clark showcased electrifying play, displaying skillful three-point shooting and remarkable passing.
Her achievements, including multiple national player of the year awards and the breaking of longstanding records, have firmly established her as a legend in women’s college basketball history. She is now expected to be the no. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and we will be eager to see her development.
The Most Important Clark Effect: Growing The Women’s Game
Clark might have lost the NCAA championship for the second year in a row but her legacy as a player is untouched. People love seeing her play and there are numbers to back her importance for the women’s game.
According to NCAA reports, the women’s first- and second-round games of this year’s NCAA tournament drew a total of 292,456 fans, marking a significant increase of 60,779 fans compared to the attendance in 2023. Comparatively, records from the NCAA indicate that the entire 2019 women’s NCAA tournament saw 274,873 fans in attendance, just five years ago. The NCAA Championship also booked a record of attendance in Cleveland as there were 18.300 people watching the game in the arena.
https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessWBB/status/1777150293962076665
She also made history as Iowa vs UConn game in the final four was the most watched women’ college basketball game ever according to ESPN. The audience reached its peak at 16.1 million viewers, as reported by ESPN.
There was already significant interest in the Elite 8 game, as over 12 million viewers tuned in to witness the highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 national championship game against LSU, where Iowa sought redemption and secured a spot in its second consecutive Final Four.
