In pictures: South Carolina wins NCAA women’s championship

The South Carolina Gameco*cks celebrate after beating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA women's basketball national championship on Sunday, April 7.

Sports

Updated 7:37 PM EDT, Sun April 7, 2024

No. 1 overall seed South Carolina defeated Iowa 87-75 to win the NCAA women's basketball national championship in Cleveland on Sunday, completing a perfect 38-0 season.

It was star Iowa guard Caitlin Clark's last game in her college career, following a record-setting season with the Hawkeyes.

Entering the championship, Iowa had the top three most-viewed women's college basketball games of all time: Friday's Final Four win against UConn (14.2 million), their Elite Eight win against LSU (12.3 million) and last year's national championship game against LSU (9.9 million).

Iowa narrowly edged out the University of Connecticut 71-69 to reach the title game for the second straight year.

The South Carolina Gameco*cks advanced to the final after defeating North Carolina State University 78-59.

South Carolina was unbeaten coming into the final, and over their prior 80 games, the team's only loss was to the Hawkeyes in last year's Final Four. The Gameco*cks are now 109-3 in the last three seasons.

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Iowa guard Caitlin Clark speaks with the media after the game.

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South Carolina coach Dawn Staley cries during a post-game interview.

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Clark, right, and Kate Martin walk off the court after losing to South Carolina.

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Staley hugs Kamilla Cardoso after the game.

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The Gameco*cks celebrate after the game.

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Clark reacts in the second half.

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South Carolina's Bree Hall shoots a three point basket over Clark.

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Clark sits on the bench at the end of the game.

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South Carolina guard Raven Johnson blocks a shot by Clark.

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South Carolina and Iowa players go after a loose ball.

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MiLaysia Fulwiley shoots over Iowa's Hannah Stuelke.

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Iowa's Gabbie Marshall and Cardoso of South Carolina fight for the ball.

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Clark runs down a loose ball between South Carolina guard Raven Johnson and center Cardoso.

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Iowa coach Lisa Bluder reacts.

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Clark stands in the middle of the court.

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Marshall steals the ball from Te-Hina Paopao of South Carolina.

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Stuelke and South Carolina's Chloe Kitts, left, and Cardoso eye a loose ball.

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Paopao dribbles the ball.

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Staley directs her team.

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Fulwiley shoots over Stuelke.

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Clark drives up the court past Raven Johnson.

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Fulwiley attempts a layup.

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Actor Jason Sudeikis, center, watches the game.

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Clark reacts after making a three-point basket.

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Clark shoots against South Carolina Gameco*cks guard Hall.

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South Carolina's Ashlyn Watkins works against Martin.

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Iowa guard Kylie Feuerbach, center, fights for a loose ball with South Carolina guards Tessa Johnson, left, and Fulwiley, right.

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South Carolina forward Watkins fights for a rebound with Iowa guard Sydney Affolter, left.

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Clark reacts after being fouled.

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Gameco*cks fans cheer during the game.

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South Carolina's Cardoso keeps the ball away from Martin and Stuelke of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

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Clark shoots a three-point basket over Hall.

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Players stand for the national anthem ahead of the game.

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Affolter is introduced ahead of the game.

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South Carolina players huddle before the game.

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Fans arrive at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse ahead of the national championship game between the Hawkeyes and the Gameco*cks.

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The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate after beating the UConn Huskies 71-69 in a Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Friday, April 5, in Cleveland.

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Iowa's Caitlin Clark celebrates after the game. Clark finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

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The Hawkeyes celebrate as the Huskies walk off the court after the game.

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Clark shoots a free throw in final moments of the game.

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UConn guard Paige Bueckers lays on the floor in the second half.

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Clark listens to Iowa coach Lisa Bluder during the second half.

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Ice Brady of the UConn Huskies shoots the ball.

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Iowa's Kate Martin gives a thumbs up after sustaining an injury in the second half.

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Martin jumps to defend a shot by Bueckers.

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Iowa Hawkeyes fans hold up signs during the game.

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Iowa players react from the bench during the second half.

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Bluder reacts in the second half.

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Bueckers fights for a loose ball with Iowa guard Gabbie Marshall during the first half. The Huskies held a 32-26 lead at halftime.

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UConn's Aaliyah Edwards looks to shoot in the first half. Edwards scored 17 points during the game.

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Nika Mühl of the UConn Huskies reacts after a foul in the first half.

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UConn's KK Arnold shoots the ball over Clark.

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Martin is fouled by Edwards during the first half.

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Martin and Arnold #2 of the UConn Huskies fight for the ball.

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Clark shoots the ball over UConn's Ashlynn Shade. UConn held Clark to six points, while shooting 3-of-11 from the field, including 0-6 from the three-point line.

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Iowa Hawkeyes huddle at the beginning of the game.

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The Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is pictured in the first half of Iowa's game against UConn.

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South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and guard Bree Hall celebrate after defeating the NC State Wolfpack 78-59 in the Final Four of the women's tournament

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NC State's Zoe Brooks walks off the court after losing to the Gameco*cks.

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South Carolina's Ashlyn Watkins shoots the ball in the second half. Watkins scored eight points during the game.

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Staley reacts during the game.

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Gameco*cks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley controls the ball in the third quarter. Fulwiley scored seven points during the game.

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NC State's River Baldwin fights Chloe Kitts of South Carolina for possession of the ball in the second half.

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Hall celebrates after making a three-point basket during the second half.

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South Carolina's Sania Feagin attempts a lay up while guarded by Baldwin.

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North Carolina State head coach Wes Moore directs his team during the second half.

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South Carolina's Raven Johnson drives around Zoe Brooks of NC State during the first half. The Gameco*cks let 32-31 at halftime.

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Katie Peneueta of the NC State Wolfpack looks for an opening during the first half.

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Fulwiley and Brooks battle for the ball in the second quarter.

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NC State's Saniya Rivers moves the ball down court while South Carolina's Raven Johnson guards in the first quarter.

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Kamilla Cardoso of the South Carolina Gameco*cks and Saniya Rivers jump for the opening tipoff.

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co*cky the South Carolina Gameco*cks mascot cheers before the game.

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NC State Wolfpack players huddle together before tipoff.

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South Carolina's Te-Hina Paopao walks onto the court during player introductions ahead of the game.

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