(Cleveland) Dawn Staley and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks completed their first perfect season by defeating Caitlin Clark and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 on Sunday in the final of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship .
With Staley leading a tireless attack on the sidelines, the Gamecocks (38-0) became the 10e Division I team to have a perfect season. They accomplished the feat even though they lost all five starting players from the last campaign.
In the final game of his illustrious college career, Clark did everything possible to allow the Hawkeyes (34-5) to enjoy their first title. She scored 30 points, including 18 in the first quarter, which was a tournament record.
Clark is already considered one of the best players in NCAA history. She rewrote the Hawkeyes record book, ending her career as the leading scorer in NCAA Division I history with 3,951 points.
Clark now hopes her legacy in the sport won’t be defined by her two NCAA Championship final losses, but she has made eyes widen with her performances.
The Gamecocks won their third title in eight years, including two in the last three years. Staley became the fifth person to win three national titles as a head coach, joining Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey and Tara VanDerveer.
PHOTO KIRBY LEE, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
The Gamecocks won their third title in eight years.
The Gamecocks, who have won 109 of their last 112 games, became the first team since the University of Connecticut Huskies in 2016 to go undefeated in a season.
Tessa Johnson led South Carolina University with 19 points. Kamilla Cardoso, who will be eligible for the next WNBA draft, had 15 points and 17 rebounds.