It all comes down to this with Iowa vs South Carolina on the Women’s basketball NCAA Championship 2024. The highly anticipated national championship game between the top-seeded South Carolina women’s basketball team and the No. 1 Iowa team is scheduled for Sunday, April 7th.
Last year, these two teams clashed in the national semifinals, resulting in Iowa ending South Carolina’s unbeaten streak. Now, with another opportunity on a grander stage, the Hawkeyes (34-4) aim to replicate their previous success.
Where to Watch Iowa VS South Carolina Women’s March Madness Championship Game?
Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. MST (Colorado), 2 p.m. CT (Iowa), 3 p.m. ET
Location: Rocket Mortgage Field House, Cleveland, Ohio. Read more about it here.
TV Broadcast: ESPN Online Streaming & ABC
ClutchBuzz Odds For Iowa vs South Carolina
Moneyline:
- South Carolina: -286
- Iowa: +213
Spread:
- South Carolina: -6.5 (-111)
- Iowa: +6.5 (-115)
Over/under:
- OVER 160.5 (-111)
- UNDER 160.5 (-119)
Click here to bet on the Women’s NCAA Championship final.
Iowa (-170 ML) is heading to the National Championship ✅ pic.twitter.com/paEeQLPKZc
— ClutchBet (@ClutchBetSB) April 6, 2024
Iowa Road To The NCAA Championship
Caitlin Clark’s illustrious college basketball journey persists as the Iowa Hawkeyes secure a spot in the women’s NCAA championship game for the second consecutive year. Their hard-fought 71-69 victory over the UConn Huskies in the Final Four at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Friday night ensures another shot at the title for Clark and the Hawkeyes.
Iowa started the NCAA March Madness with a comfortable victory 91-65 against Holy Cross, before a tough battle against West Virginia in the second round where they won 64-54.
The no. 1 seed had arrived to the final four after taking revenge against LSU in the elite 8 (94-87), following a victory against the Colorado Buffaloes on the sweet 16 (89-68).
Iowa’s Key Players
In the semifinal victory against UConn, Hannah Stuelke delivered a standout performance, showcasing her effectiveness in the paint with 23 points on an impressive 9 of 12 shooting.
While Stuelke shone inside, Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, and Sydney Affolter contributed a combined 24 points for Iowa, despite struggling from beyond the arc, shooting 3 of 12 collectively.
Iowa’s rotation primarily relies on a seven-man lineup to execute their game plan effectively. Of course the player to stop has to be back-to-back AP Player of the Year Caitlin Clark.
Bloody nose? No problem.
6 points (3-4 FG) in the 4th quarter. @kate_martin22 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/PTxZCP6Y2g
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) April 6, 2024
Caitlin Clark Once Again Close To The NCAA Title
After last year’s heartbreak in the Championship final against LSU, Caitlin Clark has another chance to compete to the NCAA title.
Throughout the tournament, Clark has been a scoring powerhouse, averaging an impressive 30 points per game. Notably, she contributed 21 points in the Final Four semifinal matchup against UConn.
Plus, Clark has showcased her long-range shooting ability, connecting on 23 of 65 attempts from beyond the arc, equating to a 35.4% success rate across five tournament games.
In addition to her scoring prowess, Clark has been a versatile playmaker, averaging 9.4 assists and 7.6 rebounds per game in the tournament. Before heading to the WNBA next year, Clark will want to leave on a high note.
CAITLIN CLARK THROWS IT OFF OF BUECKERS TO WASTE TIME OMFGGGG
GENIUS. pic.twitter.com/zKDEnioYaR
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) April 6, 2024
South Carolina Road To The NCAA Championship
On the other side of the bracket, also no. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks have started their NCAA campaign cruising past Presbyterian 91-39. They demolished again North Carolina in the second round 88-41, before a more evenly competitive match between Indiana in the sweet 16 (79-75).
In the Elite 8 South Carolina beat Oregon easily 70-58, booking a place in the final four for the second year in a row.
South Carolina secured their spot in the national championship game Sunday afternoon after defeating NC State 78-59 in the first semifinal of the 2024 Women’s Final Four. Kamilla Cardoso led the charge with 22 points, propelling the Gamecocks to victory.
This victory over NC State marks another step in South Carolina’s revenge tour. Still reeling from their unexpected loss to Iowa in last season’s national semifinals, which ended their unbeaten streak, the Gamecocks remain undefeated and hungry for redemption.
Too Easy Tessa™ pic.twitter.com/QhCGtqX3vM
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) April 6, 2024
South Carolina’s Key Players
Who are the standout performers for South Carolina’s women’s basketball team? Despite a complete turnover in their starting lineup from the previous season, the Gamecocks have reloaded and remain as formidable as ever, perhaps even more so despite their relative lack of experience.
One of South Carolina’s greatest strengths compared to other top teams nationally lies in its depth. Even if the team’s star players face tough defenses or have an off night, the bench is more than capable of stepping up and securing victories.
Kamilla Cardoso Is South Carolina’s Biggest Threat
Standing at 6 feet 7 inches, center Kamilla Cardoso is the linchpin of the team. She dominates the paint, boasting impressive averages of 14.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, all while shooting an impressive 58.9%.
Cardoso poses a significant mismatch for any opponent and has shown the ability to take over games for extended periods, as seen in her performance against NC State in the Final Four, though an injury to her lower right leg raised concerns about her availability for the championship.
Should Cardoso be limited, Ashlyn Watkins, an exceptional backup center, is ready to step in. Watkins demonstrated her capabilities with an impressive display against NC State, contributing eight points and an astounding 20 rebounds, while maintaining season averages of 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Despite coming off the bench, MiLaysia Fulwiley stands as South Carolina’s second-leading scorer, averaging 11.9 points per game. She serves as a catalyst for the team, able to score from anywhere on the court and adept at generating steals.
Handling the point guard duties is Te-Hina Paopao, who excels both as a playmaker, averaging 3.7 assists per game, and as a three-point shooter with a remarkable 46.3% accuracy.
Additionally, six other players contribute between 6.2 and 9.5 points per game, further highlighting the team’s depth. To secure a victory against South Carolina, Iowa will need to perform near flawlessly, as the Gamecocks remain undefeated thus far in the season.
Big. Shot. BREEZY 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/KrWfyacCQ9
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) April 6, 2024
A Rematch Of Iowa vs South Carolina Final Four 2023
The upcoming clash between Iowa and South Carolina marks a rematch of the 2023 Final Four showdown. In that memorable encounter, Iowa secured a 77-73 victory over the reigning national champion, South Carolina, ending the Gamecocks’ impressive winning streak dating back to March 6, 2022.
Since that defeat, South Carolina has undergone significant changes, revamping their entire starting lineup. Now, they seek redemption against Iowa, aiming to solidify their position as one of the premier programs in college sports.
In the previous matchup, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark showcased her prowess with an outstanding performance of 41 points and eight assists against the Gamecocks. However, the absence of Monika Czinano, who contributed 18 points in that game, presents a challenge for Iowa. Nonetheless, players like Hannah Stuelke, Kate Martin, and Sydney Affolter are poised to step up and fill the void, while Clark will be relied upon to deliver another standout showing.
Furthermore, South Carolina struggled from beyond the arc, shooting a mere 4-for-20 in the previous encounter, a trend they cannot afford to repeat. Anticipate a determined and aggressive start from the Gamecocks, though Iowa has proven their resilience against formidable opponents like LSU and UConn.
Undoubtedly, Iowa has faced a more challenging journey to reach the final, setting the stage for an intense and closely contested showdown.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark shoots past South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso during the second half of an NCAA Women’s Final Four semifinals basketball game Friday, March 31, 2023, in Dallas. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)
Iowa vs South Carolina Prediction
South Carolina has displayed dominance on the boards throughout the tournament, out-rebounding opponents by an impressive 13.6 margin per game, tallying 162 rebounds compared to opponents’ 106. Their proficiency from beyond the arc, shooting at a 38.7% clip on 15 attempts per game, adds another dimension to their offense.
While South Carolina possesses the ability to control the pace and turn the tide in close contests, their 15 turnovers against the Wolfpack indicate an area for improvement. The matchup between Cardoso and Stuelke in the paint holds significant importance, with South Carolina likely to maintain an edge in rebounding and capitalize on interior scoring opportunities.
The performance of role players such as Fulwiley, Paopao, and Hall will be crucial, especially in contrasting their output against Martin, Marshall, and Affolter. Keep an eye on Raven Johnson, who could emerge as a key shooter for the Gamecocks.
Ultimately, the outcome may hinge on Clark’s performance. Will she find her rhythm from beyond the arc? South Carolina’s depth allows them the flexibility to deploy aggressive defensive strategies against Clark, potentially forcing turnovers. However, Iowa’s ability to secure offensive rebounds will be pivotal.
Expect both Clark and Cardoso to shine, but due to Cardoso’s injury, we believe Clark might edge this one. Also, this Iowa team has learned from the mistakes of last year’s Championship game, so we trust Iowa to take this one home.
Prediction: Iowa 82 – South Carolina 76
