Iowa Hawkeyes play their first NCAA championship game. So why? Caitlin Clark.
The 2023 Naismith Player of the Year had one of the finest NCAA Tournament performances in the Final Four against reigning champion and No. 1 seed South Carolina. She scored 41, assisted eight, and rebounded six. No college basketball player has ever scored 41 points in a semifinal game.
She was terrific, but Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said Clark no longer surprises her.
“I think she’s the most phenomenal basketball player in America. I just don’t think there’s anybody like her. In so many regards, not only scoring, but passing the ball, handling the ball. She had the ball in her hands almost all the time tonight against some pretty good defensive players,” Bluder said in the postgame press conference.
“And then it’s her mindset. I think that’s really remarkable. She believes in herself and her teammates. She’s so confident, but she’s worked hard to deserve that confidence.”
Especially against Dawn Staley’s squad, this performance is difficult. The Gamecocks started the night with a 42-game winning streak from last season. Even the greatest offensive team in the nation would struggle against their defense, which held opponents to 51.1 points per game. The Gamecocks trailed by two points with 14 seconds left after eight lead changes on Friday.
Clark did her best. The junior guard scored or assisted on every Iowa fourth-quarter point, including 11 consecutive to close the game.
“They still made it tough for me. They were all over my shorts. They produced eight turnovers, a few were maybe forced by me. They’re really, really terrific,” Clark said. “But at the same time, I find confidence in the fact that I feel like this team has experienced just about every defense you can face. I’m never afraid coming into a game. I don’t think these ladies are either.”
Her accomplishments improve every time she plays. She became the 11th collegiate basketball player to score 1,000 points in a season on Friday while leading her team to victory.
“It’s pretty great. Clearly we get to witness all the effort she puts in each and every day, so when she gets this accolades and is doing all this things, it’s not shocking to any of us. We know what goes on behind the scenes,” fifth-year forward Monika Czinano said.
“It’s so great to play with her honestly. Getting to watch it every day, getting to be a part of it, you can’t make it up. It’s one of the best things I’ll ever do. I adore it.”
Clark became the only NCAA Tournament player to score 40 points twice. She scored 41 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds in her team’s Final Eight triumph over Louisville, the first 40-point triple double in NCAA Tournament history. No Big Dance player recorded a 30-point triple-double.
Clark is one of the best women’s collegiate basketball players ever, but she won’t be drafted until next year.
“Caitlin is the most worthy,” senior forward/guard McKenna Warnock remarked. “It’s been really amazing to develop with her these past few years, 92 games or anything we’ve begun together. She simply raises everyone around you. Even I find myself standing in amazement watching her every day.”
Clark informed Bluder she would assist the Hawkeyes reach the NCAA Tournament’s final weekend before signing.
Iowa achieved its first Final Four since 1993 and its first title game. Clark said the task isn’t done even if they’re in history.
“We didn’t come this far simply to play in the national championship game,” Clark added. “We’re here to win.”