The South Carolina Gamecocks completed their undefeated season with a 87-75 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA women's national championship.
With their win, the Gamecocks became the first team since at least 2000 to win a title after returning zero primary starters from the team that reached the Final Four in the previous season.
Despite coming off the bench, Tessa Johnson led the Gamecocks in scoring with 19 points. Kamilla Cardoso was second for South Carolina with 15 points. Three of Iowa's starters, including Caitlin Clark, tallied 40 minutes in the contest. Clark led all scorers with 30 points, 18 of which came in the first half.
After losing to the Hawkeyes in last year's Final Four, Dawn Staley's squad completed its revenge tour. South Carolina joined the 1991 Tennessee Lady Volunteers as the only teams to win the national title game against the team that eliminated them in the previous women's NCAA tournament. Staley's third title also puts her in the company of Geno Auriemma (11), Pat Summitt (8), Kim Mulkey (4) and Tara VanDerveer (3) as the fifth head coach to win a trio of national championships.
From Gamecocks alum and Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and beyond, plenty of praise poured in for the national champs.
Dawnnie crying ??? 🥹🥹 yes ma'am!!!! Happy tears ! 1 of 1!! A dawg!!! Congrats @GamecockWBB !!
— A'ja Wilson (@_ajawilson22) April 7, 2024
Tessa Johnson cooking!! 👩🏽🍳
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 7, 2024
Such a great season for WBB! Congrats SC!! Excited for what's next & continuing to come for WBB! 🔥
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 7, 2024
Amazing game! Congrats to @dawnstaley and the South Carolina Gamecocks 🫡🔥#NCAAW https://t.co/G61m3A5WL9
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) April 7, 2024
The tears that are flowing from my eyes🥹🥹 Undefeated with the championship ❤️ God is so good
— Aliyah A. Boston (@aa_boston) April 7, 2024
38-0 @GamecockWBB 🫡
— Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) April 7, 2024
Congrats to @dawnstaley and the gamecocks!! National Champs and an undefeated season that isn't talked about enough!!!🏆
— Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) April 7, 2024
Huge Congratulations to @GamecockWBB @dawnstaley & the entire program! Undefeated season w a ring is legendary 💐
— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) April 7, 2024
Dawn 🐐
— Flaujae 4️⃣ (@Flaujae) April 7, 2024
Beyond the sports world
Congrats to the Gucci and Louis Vuitton Dawn and the lady Gamecocks of South Carolina!!!! That was motivating and unforgettable. Thank you. That was beyond deserved, it was earned.
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) April 7, 2024
Lets goooooooo!!!!! South Carolina team has been phenomenal!! @dawnstaley is simply the best!!! Freshmen stepped up BIG, bench was BIG, and the leaders lead BIG!! I love it!!!
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) April 7, 2024
THANK YOU COACH DAWN‼️‼️
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) April 7, 2024
THANK YOU SC BALLERS‼️‼️‼️👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾
Ion know boutchall, but DAMN I needed that‼️‼️‼️👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Somewhere I hope Pearl Moore is smiling🤎
Congratulations to da South Carolina ladies 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼yall did dat
— GloRilla 🦍 (@GloTheofficial) April 7, 2024
Local love
Congrats‼️ https://t.co/ZDGXF6Fzwl
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 7, 2024
YOU WIN SOME, YOU LOSE NONE. 38 AND 0 for @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/0g92E5byXB
— Under Armour (@UnderArmour) April 7, 2024
