Qualifying for the NCAA final was not going to be easy for Caitlin Clark and Iowa and this semi-final against Connecticut confirmed the predictions. The best scorer in NCAA history had a failed first half with 6 points at 3/11 shooting and no winning basket scored despite her six attempts. Obviously, the Hawkeyes were in trouble at the break (32-26).
Then, the attack regained efficiency, with 25 points in the third quarter and a very contested fourth act, which will fall on the Iowa side on a very contentious decision, and which has not finished making chat.
Iowa escaped with an offensive foul (very severe) from Aaliyah Edwards caused by Gabbie Marshall (71-69). It's a screen, like we see dozens of in every game, that will decide the fate of the match… Caitlin Clark finally finishes with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, but for only the second time this season, she is not the best scorer on her team, since it is Hannah Stuelke (23 points) who is ahead of her.
Before joining the WNBA this summer, Caitlin Clark can therefore end her university career on the best note: a title, which she did not win in 2023, beaten by Angel Reese and LSU in the final.
South Carolina's perfect season?
To win the Holy Grail, you will have to beat South Carolina, which continues its perfect run since the start of the season. Dawn Staley's players took advantage of their dominance inside to crush North Carolina State. Even Kamilla Cardoso's knee injury (22 points, 11 rebounds) did not slow things down.
The latter scored 12 of her team's first 14 points in the second quarter before returning to the locker room because of a left knee problem. North Carolina State had too many weaknesses inside to resist, notably Ashlyn Watkins who grabbed 20 rebounds.
With a 16-5 to start the second half, South Carolina did the essential before winning largely (78-59) and reaching the final.
One more victory, the last and the most beautiful, and the university will end the season without having lost a single match. Only nine women's teams have achieved this, the last in 2016 with Breanna Stewart and Connecticut.
