South Carolina defeats Iowa, wins women’s NCAA championship to complete perfect season

Sports Daypop

The South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in an 87-75 win in the women’s NCAA tournament title game, winning their third national title in seven tournaments, and second in three seasons (per ESPN.) South Carolina also became the 10th team in Division I history to complete an undefeated season (38-0) — joining UConn (six times), Baylor (2011-12), Tennessee (1997-98) and Texas (1985-86). The Gamecocks have lost just one game over the past two seasons.

Freshman Tessa Johnson led the Gamecocks with 19 points off the bench, and Kamilla Cardoso finished with 15 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks.

The loss for the Iowa Hawkeyes marks their second straight in the national championship game following last year’s loss to LSU. Iowa’s loss also ended a record-breaking career for Caitlin Clark, the presumptive No. 1 pick in next week’s WNBA draft, who became the all-time leading scorer in both men’s and women’s Division 1 college basketball this season with 3,951. Clark finished with 30 points for Iowa in her final collegiate game.

Editorial credit: Al Sermeno Photography / Shutterstock.com