The women’s national championship game is set.
Overall No. 1 seed and undefeated South Carolina knocked out No. 3 seed NC State behind a double-double from Kamilla Cardoso. The Gamecocks will play Caitlin Clark and Iowa, winners of the nightcap, for the 2024 NCAA Division I championship Sunday at 3 p.m. ET (ABC).
The second semifinal featured No. 1 seed Iowa vs. No. 3 seed UConn – and a battle of electric guards in Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Clark swept all the national player of the year awards for the past two seasons, while Bueckers collected all the hardware for the 2020-21 season.
Clark finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to lead the Hawkeyes, although for the first time in her NCAA Tournament career, she didn’t score a 3-pointer in the first half.
Who is in the women’s national championship game?
(1) South Carolina (37-0) vs. (1) Iowa (34-4)
Kamilla Cardoso, who was injured in the second quarter of Friday’s game, is the engine that drives the Gamecocks. Cardoso fell hard on her right leg and left the floor with about 2 minutes to play before halftime. She returned and scored the first points of the second half with her leg wrapped in a compression sleeve. She was limping but appeared to move better as the game went on. She came out to hop on the bicycle and was tended to by trainers, a brace placed on top of the sleeve she was wearing.
Caitlin Clark will finish her collegiate career Sunday by either winning the national title or losing to an undefeated team. Clark scored 21 points to help boost Iowa back into the final, where the Hawkeyes lost last season to LSU.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.
When is the women’s national championship game?
Sunday at 3 p.m. ET
Where is the women’s national championship game?
Cleveland. Also home to the Cavaliers, Browns and Guardians. And the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
How to watch the women’s national championship game
ESPN and its family of networks has carried the entire women’s NCAA Tournament. The final will air on ABC. It also can be streamed on Fubo and ESPN+.
Has South Carolina won a title?
Yes. In 2017 and 2022, both with coach Dawn Staley.
Has Iowa won a title?
No. This is its second consecutive trip to the national championship game.
Women’s NCAA Tournament titles won by year:
2023: LSU
2022: South Carolina
2021: Stanford
2020: Canceled due to COVID
2019: Baylor
2018: Notre Dame
2017: South Carolina
2016: UConn
2015: UConn
2014: UConn
2013: UConn
2012: Baylor
2011: Texas A&M
2010: UConn
2009: UConn
2008: Tennessee
2007: Tennessee
2006: Maryland
2005: Baylor
2004: UConn
2003: UConn
2002: UConn
2001: Notre Dame
2000: UConn
1999: Purdue
1998: Tennessee
1997: Tennessee
1996: Tennessee
1995: UConn
1994: North Carolina
1993: Texas Tech
1992: Stanford
1991: Tennessee
1990: Stanford
1989: Tennessee
1988: Louisiana Tech
1987: Tennessee
1986: Texas
1985: Old Dominion
1984: Southern California
1983: Southern California
1982: Louisiana Tech
Most women’s NCAA Tournament titles by team:
11: UConn, 1995-2016
8: Tennessee, 1987-2008
3: Baylor, 2005-19
3: Stanford, 1990-2021
2: Louisiana Tech, 1982-88
2: Southern California, 1983-84
2: Notre Dame, 2001-18
2: South Carolina, 2017-22
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY operates independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.