South Carolina Beats Iowa in NCAA Championship Led by Dawn Staley
Dawn Staley hoists the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship trophy after a South Carolina win.
Photo cred: Chantel Jennings
By: Joshua Martin
Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Lady Gamecocks made history Sunday afternoon, inside of a packed Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, OH. Becoming only the fifth team in NCAA history to cap off an undefeated season with a national championship victory. The Caitlin Clark led Iowa Hawkeyes were no match against the Lady Gamecocks tenacious defense, who additionally became only the tenth team in women’s basketball history to complete an entire season undefeated. Finishing at an impressive 38-0.
Coming off the success of Caitlin Clark’s record breaking season, the Lady Hawkeyes started the game off hot. Jumping out to a 20-9 advantage in the first quarter, finishing the quarter with a 27-20 lead. However, after South Carolina made the necessary adjustments, specifically Coach Staley’s placement of guard Raven Johnson on Iowa’s Clark, the SEC team wouldn’t finish a quarter trailing. Johnson seemingly took the matchup personally as the two have a checkered on court history.
“Don’t let her score. I was ready for the moment and I take defense very hard, like I take it to heart. I studied her moves, and I was ready. I had confidence this year. I was telling myself last year’s not going to happen again.”
Clark finished the game with 30 points but it wasn’t efficient. When Raven guarded the nation’s top player head on, she shot 3 of 11, 27.3% shooting and only scored 7 points. With Caitlin effectively stymied, the game became manageable for the 2024 AP coach of the year and her driven South Carolina squad.
“It doesn’t always end like you want it to end. I’m just super proud of where I work. It’s unbelievable.”
After the massive win, Staley thanked Clark and her contributions to the game after her legendary season.
"I wanna personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport, she carried a heavy load, when she's the number 1 pick in the WNBA draft she's gonna lift that league up as well. So Caitlin if you're out there you are one of the GOATS" -Dawn Staley
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 7, 2024
🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/q3s2xcOFnX
Staley and the Lady Gamecocks have amassed an astonishing 74-1 record over the past two seasons. They also became the first team in the past 25 seasons to go undefeated without any returning starters from the previous season.
A happy dancing Dawn Staley 🤣💃 🏆@abc_columbia pic.twitter.com/2U2eSEwD6T
— Chaz R Frazier (@Chazf_tv) April 7, 2024
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