This Sunday, South Carolina, under the leadership of Coach Dawn Staley, celebrated a triumphant end to an impeccable season by clinching the NCAA national championship with an 87-75 win against Iowa. This victory not only ended Caitlin Clark’s extraordinary college career but also marked South Carolina’s status as one of the ten Division I teams to ever finish a season undefeated. Remarkably, they achieved this feat with a completely new lineup, as none of last year’s starters, who experienced a defeat against Iowa in the previous national semifinals, were present.
Caitlin Clark, the standout senior from Iowa, put up a valiant effort in her final college appearance, aiming to secure the Hawkeyes’ first championship title but ultimately coming up short. Clark dazzled with 30 points in the game, breaking the championship record by scoring 18 of those in the first quarter alone, cementing her legacy as one of the NCAA’s all-time greats.
With this win, South Carolina has now claimed three national titles in just eight years, with the last two coming in the past three seasons. Coach Staley’s remarkable coaching prowess has lifted her into the pantheon of legendary coaches like Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey, and Tara VanDerveer, who have all secured at least three national championships.
As the celebrations continue, social media has been ablaze with reactions to South Carolina’s historic win.
South Carolina second half going do it every time pic.twitter.com/iCxjlKWdan
— Don Cali 👑 (@DonCali_) April 7, 2024
The Carolinians outside celebrating South Carolina win! 🏆 #NATIONALCHAMPIONSHIP pic.twitter.com/9CrN7XyKUR
— 🅈🅅🄴🅃🅃🄴 (@ldywdefitness) April 7, 2024
Lady Gamecocks wore dwn C.Clark. Primary defender, R. Johnson made it extremely tough on every possession and it wore Clark dwn. Caitlin carries a heavy load, score and facilitate 4 every1 else 4 at least 40mins a nite. I believe that workload finally caught up with her.…
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) April 7, 2024
Dawn Staley personally thanks Caitlin Clark for lifting up women's basketball.
All class. pic.twitter.com/QNy1TwaFvD
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 7, 2024
Caitlin Clark: *scores 18 points in the 1st Quarter*
South Carolina: pic.twitter.com/0h7Bn5KRc0
— Muhammad Alinked-in (@PBSImpulse9) April 7, 2024
SO happy for Dawn Staley and South Carolina going undefeated to win yet another National Championship.
Give Dawn & her girls EVERY SINGLE FLOWER 💐 pic.twitter.com/C6nPz25JPc
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) April 7, 2024
Lets goooooooo!!!!! South Carolina team has been phenomenal!! @dawnstaley is simply the best!!! Freshmen stepped up BIG, bench was BIG, and the leaders lead BIG!! I love it!!!
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) April 7, 2024
Congrats to the Gucci and Louis Vuitton Dawn and the lady Gamecocks of South Carolina!!!! That was motivating and unforgettable. Thank you. That was beyond deserved, it was earned.
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) April 7, 2024
Iowa players to South Carolina coach after not being able to stop kamilla cardoso : pic.twitter.com/5tkhJ7L76a
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) April 7, 2024
Dawn Staley: *pouring her heart out about how much she wanted this*
Her South Carolina players behind her: pic.twitter.com/gjJSGxGRph
— Oluwajomiloju (@JomiAdeniran) April 7, 2024
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