Getty Image / Al Bello
Many felt like the all-time leading scorer in the history of NCAA basketball, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, needed a championship ring to really cement herself as the GOAT of women’s college basketball. Instead, she will have to settle for a second-straight runner-up finish, as Iowa lost to South Carolina 87-75 in the National Championship Game on Sunday in Cleveland, Ohio.
It’s hard enough to come so close to a title and losing once, let alone twice. Last year, Iowa actually upset South Carolina in the Final Four before getting beat by LSU in the final.
Clark, like anyone, is really hurting after the loss.
Very poised Caitlin Clark postgame:
"I think the biggest thing is it's really hard to win these things, I think I know that better than most people by now, to be so close twice really hurts."
Went on to credit Iowa's fight. Said she's soaking in last moments as a Hawkeye.
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) April 7, 2024
For a while, it looked like she was going to put the cherry on top of one of the best college careers we’ve ever seen. Caitlin Clark started out on fire in the first quarter. She had 18 points in the opening frame, capped off by this huge three.
18 FIRST QUARTER POINTS FOR CAITLIN CLARK 🤯
The most points ever in any quarter of a championship game 📈 pic.twitter.com/dp5WtpZjnt
— ESPN (@espn) April 7, 2024
But, South Carolina, led by guard Raven Johnson, would slow her down the rest of the game. She had just 12 points for the rest of the game, and just 10-28 shooting. That’s not the kind of efficiency Caitlin Clark wanted in her last collegiate game.
Still, it was a phenomenal career for Caitlin Clark. She leaves Iowa as the all-time scorer in college basketball history and as a two-time National Player of the Year. Plus, her impact on the game can’t be measured. Every game she played this NCAA Tournament seemingly set viewership records, with the Final Four win over UConn being watched by over 14 million people. There are few athletes in the world that are as must-watch as Caitlin Clark.
But, I’m sure she will always wish that she did capture a national title in college. Clark is likely off to the Indiana Fever as the first pick in the WNBA Draft on April 15.