South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso hugging head coach Dawn Staley; Kate Martin and Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes.Photo:Gregory Shamus/Getty; Steph Chambers/GettyThe South Carolina Gamecocks are national champions once again!The team wrapped up their undefeated season with one more win, defeatingCaitlin Clarkand the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in the women’s basketball NCAA tournament championship game on April 7.South Carolina has now secured three national championship games — and lost none! — all under head coachDawn Staley.Kamilla Cardoso during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship.Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via GettyWith their latest national championship win over Iowa, the Gamecocks also became the first team to have completed a perfect season since UConn in 2016, perNBC News.Freshman Tessa Johnson and senior Kamilla Cardoso led the team to victory, securing 19 and 15 points, respectively. Cardoso also racked up 17 rebounds and was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, per NBC News.The Gamecocks' exciting victory was also a devastating blow to the Hawkeyes and to Clark, ending the 22-year-old guard’s college career without a championship title.Leading the Hawkeyes in scoring (and adding to her stats as thehighest all-time basketball scorer in NCAA Division I basketball, man or woman), Clark collected a cool 30 points for the Hawkeyes during the championship game.South Carolina celebrating their win in the 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship.Steph Chambers/GettyWhile accepting the trophy with the Gamecocks, Coach Staley congratulated the Hawkeyes on their “incredible season," and called out Clark specifically.“I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,” she said, per NBC News. “She carried a heavy load for our sport. And it’s just — it’s not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well.”“So, Caitlin Clark, if you’re out there: You are one of the GOATs of our game, and we appreciate you,” the coach finished.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Caitlin Clark playing during the 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship.Steph Chambers/GettyBoth Cardoso and Clark’s basketball careers are far from over, as both players are projected as top-five picks in this year’s WNBA draft, according to NBC News.On Feb. 29, Clark officiallyannouncedshe would enter the2024 WNBA Draft, which is scheduled for April 15 in New York City.In astatementposted on X (formerly Twitter), Clark wrote that the season would be her last at the University of Iowa, but that she was “excited to be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft."
South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso hugging head coach Dawn Staley; Kate Martin and Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes.Photo:Gregory Shamus/Getty; Steph Chambers/Getty
Gregory Shamus/Getty; Steph Chambers/Getty
The South Carolina Gamecocks are national champions once again!The team wrapped up their undefeated season with one more win, defeatingCaitlin Clarkand the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in the women’s basketball NCAA tournament championship game on April 7.South Carolina has now secured three national championship games — and lost none! — all under head coachDawn Staley.Kamilla Cardoso during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship.Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via GettyWith their latest national championship win over Iowa, the Gamecocks also became the first team to have completed a perfect season since UConn in 2016, perNBC News.Freshman Tessa Johnson and senior Kamilla Cardoso led the team to victory, securing 19 and 15 points, respectively. Cardoso also racked up 17 rebounds and was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, per NBC News.The Gamecocks' exciting victory was also a devastating blow to the Hawkeyes and to Clark, ending the 22-year-old guard’s college career without a championship title.Leading the Hawkeyes in scoring (and adding to her stats as thehighest all-time basketball scorer in NCAA Division I basketball, man or woman), Clark collected a cool 30 points for the Hawkeyes during the championship game.South Carolina celebrating their win in the 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship.Steph Chambers/GettyWhile accepting the trophy with the Gamecocks, Coach Staley congratulated the Hawkeyes on their “incredible season," and called out Clark specifically.“I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,” she said, per NBC News. “She carried a heavy load for our sport. And it’s just — it’s not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well.”“So, Caitlin Clark, if you’re out there: You are one of the GOATs of our game, and we appreciate you,” the coach finished.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Caitlin Clark playing during the 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship.Steph Chambers/GettyBoth Cardoso and Clark’s basketball careers are far from over, as both players are projected as top-five picks in this year’s WNBA draft, according to NBC News.On Feb. 29, Clark officiallyannouncedshe would enter the2024 WNBA Draft, which is scheduled for April 15 in New York City.In astatementposted on X (formerly Twitter), Clark wrote that the season would be her last at the University of Iowa, but that she was “excited to be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft."
The South Carolina Gamecocks are national champions once again!
The team wrapped up their undefeated season with one more win, defeatingCaitlin Clarkand the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in the women’s basketball NCAA tournament championship game on April 7.
South Carolina has now secured three national championship games — and lost none! — all under head coachDawn Staley.
Kamilla Cardoso during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship.Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty
Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty
With their latest national championship win over Iowa, the Gamecocks also became the first team to have completed a perfect season since UConn in 2016, perNBC News.
Freshman Tessa Johnson and senior Kamilla Cardoso led the team to victory, securing 19 and 15 points, respectively. Cardoso also racked up 17 rebounds and was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, per NBC News.
The Gamecocks' exciting victory was also a devastating blow to the Hawkeyes and to Clark, ending the 22-year-old guard’s college career without a championship title.
Leading the Hawkeyes in scoring (and adding to her stats as thehighest all-time basketball scorer in NCAA Division I basketball, man or woman), Clark collected a cool 30 points for the Hawkeyes during the championship game.
South Carolina celebrating their win in the 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship.Steph Chambers/Getty
Steph Chambers/Getty
While accepting the trophy with the Gamecocks, Coach Staley congratulated the Hawkeyes on their “incredible season," and called out Clark specifically.
“I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,” she said, per NBC News. “She carried a heavy load for our sport. And it’s just — it’s not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well.”
“So, Caitlin Clark, if you’re out there: You are one of the GOATs of our game, and we appreciate you,” the coach finished.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Caitlin Clark playing during the 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament national championship.Steph Chambers/Getty
Both Cardoso and Clark’s basketball careers are far from over, as both players are projected as top-five picks in this year’s WNBA draft, according to NBC News.
On Feb. 29, Clark officiallyannouncedshe would enter the2024 WNBA Draft, which is scheduled for April 15 in New York City.
In astatementposted on X (formerly Twitter), Clark wrote that the season would be her last at the University of Iowa, but that she was “excited to be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft."
source: people.com
