The Caitlin Clark coronation was scheduled for late Sunday afternoon in Cleveland, Ohio, April 7, 2024.
Coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina had another plan – and the plan was perfect.
After falling behind by 11 points early in the NCAA Women’s National Tournament title game, South Carolina outscored Iowa by 23 points to prevail 87-75. Staley’s women finished their season at 37-0 – and she wondered how her team’s accomplishments were lost in the Caitlin scoring-record commotion.
“We quietly have done things, in my opinion, the right way,” Staley explained in a postgame press conference.
“We find the right pieces to really help us do things the right way; whether it is discipline or how we approach basketball. In return we have success in the wins column and very little disappointment in the loss column.
“I don’t think that is talked about enough. What we’ve been able to do. I don’t know why. I really don’t care why. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing the right way.”
Only five women’s basketball programs have completed undefeated seasons. South Carolina is now among them. Somehow the season-long quest for perfection became less important than Clark’s scoring marks, coach Kim Mulkey and LSU’s circus atmosphere, and record TV ratings.
Women’s college basketball is as popular as ever at the close of the 2023-24 season and Clark is a major reason. But it is a team game, and the best team by far in the country won the title and didn’t lose a game.
That would carry the day in NCAA men’s college basketball, and it would lead sports news telecasts – not a player achieving scoring records.
Tessa Johnson, a freshman, was ready when Staley called on her to help spark South Carolina after falling behind. She responded with 19 points, including a pair of huge three-point baskets that helped push her team’s lead to double digits in the third quarter.
There is no jealousy on this team, it is one for all and all for one.
“We’re unselfish people,” Johnson said.
Keep in mind that South Carolina was loaded with seniors last season when Iowa stunned them in a national semifinal game in 2023. Staley’s team had five new starters when the season began, which is rare.
Of course, the Gamecocks needed veteran players to excel too, and senior center Kamilla Cardoso was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. She totaled 15 points and 17 rebounds in the national championship victory.
“Kamila Cardoso was not going to let us lose a game in the NCAA tournament,” an emotional Staley told ESPN minutes after the game ended.
“She played through an injury. She played like one of the top picks in the WNBA Draft.”
Staley also praised Clark, noting her importance to women’s college basketball.
“I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,” Staley said.
“She carried a heavy load for our sport. [She] is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, she’s gonna lift that league up as well. So, Caitlin Clark…you are one of the GOATs of our game. We appreciate you.”
The Reid Roundup
South Carolina appreciates Dawn Staley to the tune of a $250,000 bonus for winning the national championship…South Carolina’s bench outscored Iowa’s 37-0, a record…After posting an NCAA Women’s Tournament record 18 points in the first quarter, Caitlin Clark would score just 12 more on five-of-20 shooting…Credit the defense of Raven Johnson, whose two steals late in the first half set the stage for her team’s second-half surge…Clark added the all-time NCAA Women’s Tournament scoring record to her accomplishments by netting 492 points in four tournament appearances…Earl Austin was on the scene in Minneapolis when the SLU Lady Billikens won the Women’s NIT title. He compared the South Carolina-Iowa first half to the first round of the Marvin Hagler-Tommy Hearns championship boxing match in 1985…By 10 p.m., NCAA women’s college basketball got a reminder of its place in the nation’s sports hierarchy. The story that John Calipari was leaving Kentucky to coach Arkansas became the lead story on ESPN Sportscenter, moving South Carolina, Staley, Clark and a perfect season to secondary status.
Do we have the best coach in the nation? The whole wide world? Be on the lookout.
