[TheFarm07]

Did we watch the same game? I would not describe Iowa as Caitlin Clark + a lack of supporting cast. To my eye, the rest of the team worked incredibly well to enable what Clark did, and their defense on SC was just as crucial as Clark’s offensive brilliance. The passing from everyone on the team was very precise, and Czinano’s footwork around the basket was unreal. Plus there were several other shooters who were able to hit key shots aside from Clark. I think Iowa is quite well coached, and the team as a whole plays very well together, and they also happen to have a generational talent in Clark who helped carry them to the title game.

I am not saying that the rest of Iowa's team is bad, but relatively speaking, their talent level sans Clark is not as high as say, Sabally and Hebard on Oregon's team. But they did a great job. As otherworldly as Clark was, it wasn't 1 on 5 and even though S. Carolina snagged an insane amount of offensive rebounds, Iowa's defense did just enough. Boston was held scoreless up until the second half, I think. They just could not prevent Cardoso from grabbing those o-boards and landing those putbacks, I think she started 7/7 before missing a crucial second-chance opportunity late in the game.

Offensively, Czanino is nearly automatic against most defenses inside and Iowa has enough other shooters that you can't cheat and leave them open.

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Has there ever been a women's final game before this year without a #1 seed? This year, it's Iowa (#2) vs LSU (#3). What an elevation of competition in the women's game.

In 2011, Texas A&M and Notre Dame were both #2 seeds in the championship game. I think that was the last time that a #1 seed was not in the finals.

Going back even further, I think you have to go back nearly two more decades to find the next example: #3 North Carolina over #4 Louisiana Tech in the 1994 title game.

[TheFarm07]

Did we watch the same game? I would not describe Iowa as Caitlin Clark + a lack of supporting cast. To my eye, the rest of the team worked incredibly well to enable what Clark did, and their defense on SC was just as crucial as Clark’s offensive brilliance. The passing from everyone on the team was very precise, and Czinano’s footwork around the basket was unreal. Plus there were several other shooters who were able to hit key shots aside from Clark. I think Iowa is quite well coached, and the team as a whole plays very well together, and they also happen to have a generational talent in Clark who helped carry them to the title game.

I am not saying that the rest of Iowa's team is bad, but relatively speaking, their talent level sans Clark is not as high as say, Sabally and Hebard on Oregon's team. But they did a great job. As otherworldly as Clark was, it wasn't 1 on 5 and even though S. Carolina snagged an insane amount of offensive rebounds, Iowa's defense did just enough. Boston was held scoreless up until the second half, I think. They just could not prevent Cardoso from grabbing those o-boards and landing those putbacks, I think she started 7/7 before missing a crucial second-chance opportunity late in the game.

Offensively, Czanino is nearly automatic against most defenses inside and Iowa has enough other shooters that you can't cheat and leave them open.

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Has there ever been a women's final game before this year without a #1 seed? This year, it's Iowa (#2) vs LSU (#3). What an elevation of competition in the women's game.

In 2011, Texas A&M and Notre Dame were both #2 seeds in the championship game. I think that was the last time that a #1 seed was not in the finals.

Going back even further, I think you have to go back nearly two more decades to find the next example: #3 North Carolina over #4 Louisiana Tech in the 1994 title game.