A Lasting Legacy

Undefeated NCAA Champions

Last night, the Women’s NCAA championship was awarded to the South Carolina Gamecocks who defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75. The top ranked team finished the season undefeated, marking it the first time since the UConn Huskies did it (for what felt like the billionth time) in 2015-16. This is a particularly impressive feat given the large turnover of South Carolina players who were in last year’s draft. The game was a back and forth affair and for a minute it looked like Iowa was going to run away with the win. However, solid defense and timely shooting from the entire roster helped South Carolina secure the victory. And while the talk of the sports world was Caitlin Clark, I think it’s important to give the Gamecocks their flowers here. Incredible presence on the boards (Cardoso looked unstoppable) and incredible shooting from the bench (alongside solid performances from the superstar starters) pushed them to a well deserved victory. Congratulations to the Lady Gamecocks!

How Many Teams Have Gone Undefeated?

In it’s long history, the NCAA women’s basketball championship has had only 10 teams go undefeated (now including the South Carolina Gamecocks). With the UConn Huskies completing the feat an incredible 6 times. While South Carolina is poised to fill another WBNA draft class, I wouldn’t put anything past Coach Staley to have the Gamecocks in position to be undefeated once again next year.

Her Lasting Legacy

Although her collegiate career didn’t end the way Caitlin Clark would’ve liked (again), its hard to argue with what she has helped create for women’s basketball around the world. The amount of fans who tuned into their first NCAA women’s tournament (including yours truly who watched the entire game with my Daughter) was incredible, and I hope she continues to push the envelope for Women’s basketball across the globe. The WBNA draft is coming up next week and it would be hard to imagine anyone else going #1 overall. Despite this loss in the championship, Clark has certainly left her mark on the sport. Not only focusing on her becoming the all time scorer in NCAA history or the plethora of accolades & awards she amassed during her collegiate career, Clark has successfully chummed the waters into what has now become an overnight, frenzied appetite for women’s basketball. The impact that she created this season in particular cannot be overstated.

So, What’s next?

Next up for many of the names you’ve heard all tournament long is the upcoming WNBA draft. As mentioned above, Clark is likely the overwhelming consensus #1 overall pick. But where do the mocks have the other eye-catching players going? Kamilia Cardoso is looking to be drafted top 5. After her dominant performance in the paint last night, I’m not surprised. Angel Reese is hoping to secure herself a spot in the top 7, potentially landing with the Washington Mystics or the Minnesota Lynx. The biggest question on my mind: Will this incoming crop of rookies inspire some much needed fans to put their butts in seats, become viewers on TV, and/or converse online about the WNBA? Time will tell.

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