CLEVELAND — Caitlin Clark’s senior season has been filled with questions:
How many points would she score today? How far did that shot come from? Did you see that?
Would she return to Iowa? Which records would she break? Would she be affected by an unprecedented spotlight? How much more would she grow the game?
With one game left in her legendary collegiate career, only one question remains: Will she go out on top?
The greatest scorer in Division I history enters Sunday’s title game against South Carolina with an opportunity to bring the first national championship to her home state, with a chance to avenge last year’s title loss to LSU, with another 40 minutes to muzzle every critic who insists a ring is required for entry into all-time debates.
“Everybody would come up to me before the season started and was, like, ‘Only one thing left to do,’ ” Clark said. “I don’t want this to end, whether it’s with a win or with a loss. I think the biggest thing is you have that little fire inside of you. I’ve had some tough losses, and I think those are the moments that have prepared me for right now, for this opportunity.”
Few players have ever had more at stake in a single game.
Few teams have ever been given the opportunity of No. 1 South Carolina (37-0), in its rematch with No. 1 Iowa (34-4).
It was one year ago that the Gamecocks looked like a lock to repeat as champions, rolling into the Final Four with a perfect record.
Then, Clark became America’s favorite sweetheart and assassin, leading the Hawkeyes to an upset of the nation’s top-ranked team with an unforgettable performance — 41 points, eight assists and six rebounds — in Iowa’s 77-73 win.
Several South Carolina players remain haunted by the loss, becoming the confetti the country used to celebrate Clark.
Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson admits to watching video of the loss “more than 100 times.”
“I remember last year I was very nervous guarding [Clark], just being who she is, but this time I’m not scared,” Johnson said. “I was definitely hoping for a rematch. There’s no better feeling than hopefully beating the team that beat you last year. Beating them will complete the revenge tour.”
Clark may have the final word.
In the Elite Eight, she exacted revenge on Angel Reese and LSU, with 41 points (nine 3-pointers) and 12 assists.
In the national semifinals, Clark’s fourth-quarter magic helped oust Paige Bueckers, Geno Auriemma and the UConn program that long dominated the sport.
Next comes the most fitting final boss, putting a scripted, storybook ending within reach.
“It’s a monumental game for our game,” said South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, who is seeking her third national title and the sport’s first undefeated season in seven years. “I hope it’s the most watched game [ever]. I hope that everybody gets exactly what they want out of it.”
South Carolina was seemingly built in a lab to keep Clark from cutting down the net. It has the nation’s top-ranked defense to slow the nation’s highest-scoring offense.
It has a dominant frontline — featuring 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso — to attack Iowa’s undersized lineup. It brings the deepest rotation in the country into battle against an opponent with no bench.
South Carolina has everything — except the one player who stands above all when she steps on a court.
There is only one thing left for her to do. There is only one question left to answer.
“I think this matchup, you can’t ask for anything better,” Clark said. “We know we have our hands full. Everybody around the country knows South Carolina has been the team all year. They’ve just been incredible. We’re going to give it every single thing we’ve got.
“[A championship] would be the cherry on top. That would be the top of the list, the thing that you’re most proud of.”
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