South Carolina outlasts Caitlin Clark, Iowa to win NCAA title and complete perfect season

Dawn Staley gives Iowa's superstar major kudos during the trophy presentation: "Caitlin Clark, if you're somewhere watching this, you are one of the GOATs of our game and we appreciate you."

She noted that Clark carried a "heavy load" with her popularity, and it forever impacted the game.

Kamilla Cardoso wins Most Outstanding Player, a fitting send off before she joins the WNBA as a projected lottery pick.

South Carolina fields congrats from a former president. They'll be invited to visit President Joe Biden in honor of the win.

This interview captured it all. After rolling past NC State, Staley told Boston she wanted to win it for "The Freshies." The class of stars left South Carolina for the WNBA after losing to Iowa in the Final Four last year. Now, they'll get their rings.

What Caitlin Clark accomplished this season will never be forgotten. The clear No. 1 pick, she will continue to draw crowds when the WNBA season tips off on May 15.

Final: South Carolina 87, Iowa 75

There are tears everywhere. Even alum Aliyah Boston broke down as she stood behind a teary Dawn Staley during the postgame interview.

As Clark subs out and says her goodbye to college basketball, Molly Davis subs in to touch the court after an injury kept her out.

That's it. Raven Johnson dribbles to wait out the clock and coach Staley tells her not to shoot.

South Carolina fans can taste the win now. Clark sent PaoPao to the free throw line with 1:07 remming and she made both of her attempts. Up 12 points, the Gamecocks are so close to completing a perfect season.

Fans are booing after Iowa's Kate Martin was called for a foul. She hooked Ashlyn Watkins, who went 1-for-2 from the free throw line.

Cardoso is the key of this game. After an offensive rebound and layup, she's up to 15 points.

South Carolina didn't like that one. Affolter stole the ball from Raven Johnson near the half court line and completed a three-point play after she was fouled on the layup.

South Carolina's Tessa Johnson was fouled by Kate Marshall and she made both of her free throws. Martin answered with a layup on the other end assisted by Clark.

This 3 from Marshall was crucial for Iowa, capping off an 8-0 run.

Stuelke missed both of her free throws and Johnson capitalized for South Carolina with a jumper. Clark answered with a jumper and Fulwiley scored a layup on the other end.

The final quarter is underway! We're starting with Stuelke at the free throw line after a take to the basket.

End of 3rd: South Carolina 68, Iowa 59

Clark attempted to end the quarter with a three-pointer but it was no good.

TESSA JOHNSON has the hot hand. Iowa calls a timeout after she hits another 3-pointer, her second of the quarter.

Bree Hall is the next Gamecock to score a 3. South Carolina is up 10 points.

Ooo boy. Clark scored in the paint again. She almost had another impressive assist to Stuelke, too. South Carolina capitalized on the miss, securing the defensive rebound and converting with a 3-pointer from Tessa Johnson.

Iowa's Gabbie Marshall made a 3-pointer for her first field goal of the game. It was assisted by Clark, who followed up with a highlight assist to Stuelke.

Clark just scored in the paint and looked to the officials for a foul call. Cardoso ended up at the free throw line on the other end instead. She missed both of her free throws. A few plays later, Kitts was called for an offensive foul on a drive to the basket.

And we're off in the third quarter. Chloe Kitts gets on the board first for South Carolina with a layup assisted by PaoPao. Kitts follows up with a jumper.

After another jumper from PaoPao, the Gamecocks are on a 6-0 run.

Referees in the hot seat

Happy halftime! It looks like the conversation during the break has shifted toward the officials. Reporters, athletes and sports media personalities have weighed in throughout the game.

South Carolina is so good at putting a few more points on the board at the end of quarters. It came up big in the regular season win against LSU (one of their few close games). That quick five points heading into the half could matter.

Halftime: South Carolina 49, Iowa 46

Iowa's Kate Martin finishes with 11 points in the first half of her final collegiate game. South Carolina guard TeHina PaoPao is 3-for-3 from the three-point line.

PaoPao ended the second quarter with a huge three for South Carolina after a block from Feagin. Raven Johnson added to the Gamecocks' lead with a steal and fastbreak layup.

Clark just became the first men's or women's NCAA DI player to make 200 3-pointers in a single season. The previous high was Steph Curry with 162. She's up to 21 points and four three-pointers.

Stuelke is back at the free throw line. She has the last niof Iowa's points.

She's made a huge difference on both ends for Iowa, including this block from the first quarter.

You know who didn't play in that 2023 semifinal matchup? Tessa Johnson, because she was still in high school. She's been clutch for South Carolina off the bench with an efficient nine points.

Another layup from Cardoso gave South Carolina the lead but Stuelke was quick to answer for Iowa and tie the game. She was fouled under the basket as she scored. It's Ashyln Watkins' second personal.

South Carolina is up to 12 second chance points after a wild sequence resulted in a layup for Cardoso.

The second quarter is here. South Carolina freshman Tessa Johnson is the first to score in the period.

Clark is out of control. With another 3-pointer she reached 18 points in the first, the most ever recorded in a championship quarter.

Fulwiley is a GAME CHANGER. After making a 3-pointer on one end of the court, she broke up Iowa's offense on the other end.

Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley is in off the bench and she's already making an impact with a quick layup followed by a second-chance bucket.

That is EXACTLY the start you want if you're Iowa. Caitlin Clark is peak Caitlin Clark with two 3s, five free throws and 13 points. Kate Martin (one of the three starting seniors) has five. Rebounds are even now, but in that 7-0 start Iowa out-rebounded South Carolina, 4-1.

Stop everything. Caitlin Clark is heating up. She has the last 13 of Iowa's points, three of which came from a highlight logo 3-pointer.

If I recall correctly, South Carolina's largest deficit of the tournament was two points in one of the Albany regional games. Unchartered territory for this Gamecocks group.

Cardoso answered a Clark three-pointer with a layup for South Carolina's first points of the game.

South Carolina can't get anything to fall and the Hawkeyes start the game on a 10-0 run.

Cardoso easily won the tip but it was Iowa to get on the board first with a three-pointer from Kate Martin.

Here are your starters. The crowd came to an undeniable roar when Caitlin Clark was introduced.

Iowa:

• Caitlin Clark

• Gabbie Marshall

• Sydney Affolter

• Kate Martin

• Hannah Stuelke

South Carolina:

• Te-Hina Paopao

• Raven Johnson

• Bree Hall

• Chloe Kitts

• Kamilla Cardoso

The moment has arrived. The national anthem will play soon, players will be introduced. No matter the outcome, this game will be historic for women's basketball.

Hello from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. It's a full house and looks like nearly every fan in the place is at their seat standing during pre-tip warm-ups.

Clark won't be the only key player for the Hawkeyes today, as Kate Martin is also expected to provide an X-factor. Ahead of her final game for Iowa, she gave the team an animated speech.

Caitlin Clark lost in the title game against LSU last year. The stage is set for a storybook ending to her record-breaking collegiate career.

Arrivals in high definition: