Perfection. South Carolina completed its undefeated season with an 87-75 win over Iowa in the national championship game.
The win secured the program's second title in three seasons and third in program history, making South Carolina just the fifth NCAA women's basketball program to accomplish that feat.
The Gamecocks got off to an unusual start. The Hawkeyes opened the game with a 10-0 run and led by as much as 11 in the first quarter, helped by 18 points from star Caitlin Clark. The senior broke another record with the first-quarter deluge, becoming the NCAA Tournament career scoring leader.
In the second half, the script flipped. South Carolina held a one-possession lead at halftime, then dominated the final two quarters.
Freshman Tessa Johnson led the team with 19 points off the bench. Kamilla Cardoso recorded a career-high 17 rebounds. Chloe Kitts recorded a double-double. And the team that began the season with a brand new starting lineup did the unexpected.
Once again, a season ends in heartbreak for Iowa, which lost in the title game for the second straight year.
In her final collegiate game, Clark recorded 30 points. Fellow seniors Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall added 16 points and three steals, respectively. Unlike the Gamecocks, though, Iowa had no points off the bench.
South Carolina, who lost to the Hawkeyes in the 2023 Final Four, is now 109-3 through the last three seasons, which includes two national championships. It's a dynasty Dawn Staley is not in the midst of making but has already established.
The Sporting News live tracked all the latest updates and highlights from Iowa vs. South Carolina 2024 NCAA women's basketball championship.
STREAM: Watch Iowa vs. South Carolina live with Sling TV
Iowa vs. South Carolina score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| Iowa | 27 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 75 |
| South Carolina | 20 | 29 | 19 | 19 | 87 |
Caitlin Clark stats
- Points: 30
- Rebounds: 8
- Assists: 5
- Steals: 0
- Blocks: 0
- FGs: 10-28
Iowa vs. South Carolina results, highlights from 2024 NCAA women's basketball championship
All times Eastern.
Final: Iowa 75, South Carolina 87
5:11 p.m. – For the final time, Caitlin Clark steps off the court as a Hawkeye. Seniors Molly Davis and Sharon Goodman step on.
5:06 p.m. – Gamecock fans can feel it. They lead 84-75 with 1:26 to go.
5:02 p.m. – Five point game. Three minutes to go.
4:54 p.m. – Marshall from deep! Iowa inches closer, trailing 76-70 with six minutes to go.
4:50 p.m. – Cardoso's 13th point gives SC a 13-point lead! She's got a double-double with 12 rebounds.
End of third quarter: Iowa 59, South Carolina 68
4:40 p.m. – Tessa Johnson for 3! The freshman leads the Gamecocks with 15 points off the bench.
4:37 p.m. – Bree Hall makes it a 10 points difference! South Carolina leads 65-55 with 2:41 to go in the third.
4:27 p.m. – A tough finish from Clark gives Iowa its first points of the quarter.
4:22 p.m. – It's a 6-0 start to the third for South Carolina.
4:20 p.m. – The final 20 minutes begins now.
Halftime: Iowa 46, South Carolina 49
4:03 p.m. – Raven. Johnson. The sophomore gets the steal and score for the final basket of the half! It's her third takeaway of the game.
3:57 p.m. – It's raining 3s! Te-Hina Paopao and Clark make it look too easy with back-to-back baskets.
3:55 p.m. – Respect all around.
3:52 p.m. – The Gamecock bench is the difference maker thus far. It's responsible for 20 of 36 points.
3:48 p.m. – Kamilla Cardoso gives South Carolina its first lead of the afternoon!
3:46 p.m. – Fulwiley denied by Hannah Stuekle!
3:39 p.m. – With her 18th basket, Clark becomes the all-time leading scorer in an NCAA basketball tournament. She passes Chamique Holdsclaw.
End of first quarter: Iowa 27, South Carolina 20
3:31 p.m. – The freshman with the 3! It's a 9-2 run for the Gamecocks and a four-point game.
3:28 p.m. – MiLaysia Fulwiley comes off the bench for an assist and two more points as South Carolina closes the gap to 20-13.
3:23 p.m. – Clark on a run of her own to open up the championship.
3:18 p.m. – It's a 10-0 run for the Hawkeyes to start!
3:16 p.m. – Here we go. South Carolina gets the ball first.
2:45 p.m. – Thirty minutes until tipoff... Will South Carolina complete the undefeated season? Or will Iowa find its first national championship in Clark's final season?
2:30 p.m. – The senior tapes up for the final time.
2:00 p.m. – The Gamecocks have arrived.
1:30 p.m. – Cleveland is ready! T-minus 90 minutes until Iowa and South Carolina take the court.
12:32 p.m. – On the other side, the Gamecocks lost all five starters from last season to graduation or the WNBA. With a new lineup, South Carolina entered the season ranked No. 6, but instead completed an undefeated regular season for the second straight year.
12:23 p.m. – To start the season, Iowa played the Crossover at Kinnick, an exhibition game against DePaul in the Hawkeyes' football stadium. Now, they're playing in their second straight national championship. What a season for the Hawkeyes.
11:15 a.m. — And now, images from South Carolina's shootaround. The Gamecocks are looking locked in as they look to avenge last year's Final Four loss to Iowa and complete an undefeated season.
10:21 a.m. — Iowa shared some snapshots of their pregame shootaround and meeting at center court. The Hawkeyes are looking to win their first-ever national championship while avoiding a second consecutive runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament.
What channel is Iowa vs. South Carolina on today?
- TV channel: ABC
- Live stream: Sling
The women's basketball national championship will be broadcast on ABC. Cord-cutters can stream the game on Sling.
MORE WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE:
- Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers by the numbers
- How South Carolina can join UConn, other undefeated champs in history
- How Caitlin Clark will fit with WNBA's Indiana Fever roster
- Revisiting Caitlin Clark's 41-point game vs. South Carolina in 2023 Final Four upset
Iowa vs. South Carolina start time
- Date: Sunday, April 7
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
The national championship game between Iowa and South Carolina starts at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 7. It marks the final game of the 2023-24 NCAA women's basketball season.
Women's Final Four schedule 2024
National Championship
Sunday, April 7
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| (1) South Carolina vs. (1) Iowa | 3 p.m. | ABC, Sling |