The South Carolina Gamecocks ended their perfect season with a win over the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75. South Carolina displayed a high level of teamwork and competitiveness throughout the season, with a 38-0 overall record.
Gamecocks senior Kamilla Cardoso won the Women’s Final Four Most Outstanding Player award. She, along with juniors Bree Hall and Sania Feagin, became two-time NCAA champions.
This is the third championship for both the program and Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley, making her the first Black coach male or female to win three NCAA titles. The four-time Naismith College Coach of the Year has created a 109-3 record with South Carolina in the past three seasons.
“It’s a heavy load to be undefeated, to finish the job,” Staley said. “And you get emotional because you just want that for them, and you’re happy that you’re able to — because only one team wins the national championship.”
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South Carolina freshman Tessa Johnson led the bench scoring in the second half, helping the team lead by as much as 14 during the title bout. Johnson ultimately led the Gamecocks with 19 points.
“[Johnson] was due for a breakout game, what to do better on a national stage?” said Gamecocks senior guard Te-Hina Paopao. “She’s trusted her process here … I’m so proud of her. Her confidence has grown so much.”
The victory was a team effort, with Cardoso battling to get shots and create second-chance opportunities. Freshman guard Raven Johnson defended Iowa senior guard Caitlin Clark and forced a steal against her in the final minutes of the second quarter.
“I did want to see [Iowa] in the national championship this year because what happened last year,” Raven said, referring to their 73-77 loss to the Hawkeyes in the 2023 Final Four. “It was a revenge tour and there’s no better way to than to play them in the championship and beat them.”
South Carolina outrebounded Iowa 51-29 with the Gamecocks making 18 offensive boards.
While Clark led all scorers with 30 points, the Gamecocks displayed their depth in the championship bout. The South Carolina bench scored 37 points while the bench of the Hawkeyes went scoreless.
This is a high note to a dominant postseason performance for South Carolina who held their opponents to under 45 points in the first two rounds of March Madness.
Sophomore forward Chloe Kitts came off the bench to score 21 points and Feagin made 10 rebounds along with 12 points against Presbyterian Blue Hose in the first round.
MiLaysia Fulwiley dropped 20 points with senior Kamilla Cardoso scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds against the UNC Tar Heels in the second round.
Cardoso stuffed the stat sheet in their Sweet 16 matchup against Indiana by scoring 22 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. When the game went down to the wire, Raven hit a pivotal three-pointer to keep them ahead; she ultimately scored 14 points and six assists.
In their Elite Eight 70-58 win against Oregon State, Johnson scored 15 points. Sophomore forward Ashlyn Watkins was a defensive stalwart with 14 rebounds and four blocks.
“I love playing defense. I love jumping, and I just like being active on the defensive end,” Watkins said. “I think that’s what gets us started on the offensive end, good defense.”
South Carolina battled NC State in their fourth consecutive Final Four appearance, Watkins owned the boards with 20 rebounds. Cardoso led all scorers with 22 points to go with her 11 rebounds. She noted how much Staley meant to her.
“I feel like, since the first day I got to South Carolina, she’s been working so hard to get me ready and prepared for moments like this,” Cardoso said. “I’m just so thankful to have her as a coach. She’s like an inspiration for me and a lot of young girls out there.”
The undefeated season of South Carolina started with a bang with them competing in the first-ever NCAA women’s basketball game in Paris, France. They defeated Notre Dame 100-71 in the match-up. The Gamecocks would go on to score in the triple digits in four of their first five games. Ultimately, they had six triple-digit scoring games this season.
