Caitlin Clark’s Run for a Ring Ends in front of Record 18.

7
Million Viewers against South Carolina in National
Championship
Written by: Alexandra Medina

CLEVELAND– Making it through an entire NCAA season as an undefeated team is not an easy
thing to do, but neither is changing the image of a sport. Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes
faced off against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday afternoon in the NCAA National
Championship with one last goal in mind, to win it all.

With a record 18.7 million viewers watching, the Hawkeyes were looking to clinch its first
national championship title, and the Gamecocks were looking to make this its third.

Dawn Staley celebrating the Gamecocks national championship title as confetti pours down onto the court. (Photo by The Athletic)

South Carolina was able to keep its perfect season by making Iowa pay for knocking its team
out of the Final Four tournament last year. Dawn Staley, the head coach of the Gamecocks led
the team to a 87-75 victory.

“Dynastic type program under Dawn Staley,” said Clark Kellogg, a CBS Sports analyst.

Coming into this game all eyes were on Clark, and it seemed like she would be adding a shiny
new ring to her finger early on into the game. Clark finished the first quarter with 18 points, and
11 of them were within a minute.
Coming into this season was not easy for the WNBA hall of fame coach. Staley came into the
season with an all new starting five, and ended the season with another challenge.. Stopping
Clark.

Clark continued to show the world why it was watching her during the biggest game of her
career, and in order to win the title the Gamecocks would need to stop the all time leading
NCAA scorer. During the first quarter Bree Hall was guarding Clark, but the points kept on
coming, forcing Staley to make a change.

Raven Johnson came into the game for Bree Hall, becoming Clark’s primary defender, and
biggest challenge. Johnson was able to grasp four turnovers against Clark, and only allowed 12
points.

Clark managed to score 30 points in the championship game, and will be headed to the WNBA
draft. Staley and the Gamecocks will be on its way back to South Carolina with some shiny new
hardware.

During the trophy presentation Staley had one message for Clark.

“I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport…” Staley said. “She carried a
heavy load for our sport, and it is not going to stop here on a collegiate tour. When she’s the No.
1 pick in the WNBA Draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well”