Caitlin Clark, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer and two-time reigning Associated Press Player of the Year, shared an emotional message regarding the conclusion of her collegiate career following Iowa's 87-75 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship Game on Sunday (April 7).
"Words cannot express my love for my teammates, coaches, fans and our university - Thanks for making my dreams come true. Wearing Iowa across my chest the last four years has been an honor. This place will always be home," Clark wrote on her X account.
Clark recorded 30 points, including 18 in the first period, eight rebounds and five assists during what served as her final collegiate game before entering the 2024 WNBA Draft. The 22-year-old is projected to be selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever next Monday (April 15).
The Gamecocks defeated the Hawkeyes to complete their perfect season, finishing with a 38-0 (16-0 SEC) overall record. Freshman guard Tessa Johnson led South Carolina with a career-high 19 points off the bench.
Senior Kamilla Cardoso finished with a double-double, recording 15 points and 10 rebounds and was named the Most Outstanding Player for the tournament in what served as her final collegiate game. South Carolina has now won three NCAA March Madness national titles in program history, all of which have come during the 16-year tenure of head coach Dawn Staley, which is tied with Baylor and Stanford for the third-most in NCAA history.
The Gamecocks avenged last season's Final Four loss to Iowa, which also fell short in the March Madness Final to LSU in 2023. Staley, 53, a six-time WNBA All-Star during her playing career, is now tied with Basketball Hall of Famer Tara Vanderveer for the fifth-most NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship wins in history, trailing only Hall of Famers Geno Auriemma, the late Pat Summitt and Kim Mulkey for the most all-time.