An exciting Women’s basketball season came down to one final game, a rematch of the 2023 semi-final between South Carolina and Iowa. South Carolina, coached by Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, went undefeated throughout the regular season and looked to become one of only ten teams to go undefeated in women’s college basketball. Iowa, led by the record-shattering Caitlin Clark, looked for a repeat of last year’s clash, a 77-73 win for the Hawkeyes, as well as their first title in school history.
With only minutes left in the fourth quarter, Iowa trailed by five following an and one from Sydney Affolter. However, that was as close as the Hawkeyes would get. The Gamecocks’ Kamilla Cardoso, projected number four pick in the upcoming WNBA draft, took over. As the last few minutes ticked by, the center blocked an Iowa shot, then followed it up with an offensive rebound and a putback on the other end, which as much as shut the door on an Iowa comeback. Cardoso was rewarded for her 15-point, 17-rebound effort by being named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
With the victory, the Gamecocks secured their third championship in school history, further cementing their legacy as one of the top programs in women’s college basketball. For Coach Staley, who’s on track to become one of a select group of inductees for both coaching and playing careers, adding another title to her name doesn’t hurt her case.
