Iowa vs. UConn highlights: Caitlin Clark, Hawkeyes fight off Huskies

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Iowa vs. UConn highlights: Caitlin Clark, Hawkeyes fight off Huskies

Lindsay Schnell, Nancy Armour and Josh Peter, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Sat, Apr 6, 2024 ·

23 min read

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CLEVELAND – Caitlin Clark's career at Iowa is going to end in the national championship game.

Clark and the Hawkeyes advanced to the title game for a second consecutive season, beating UConn 71-69 in the Final Four on Friday night. They'll play South Carolina, who defeated NC State earlier in the night.

Clark and Iowa lost to LSU in the national championship game last year, and college basketball's all-time leading scorer has talked often this season of the job not being done and wanting more. Well, now she's going to get the chance to end her illustrious career in perfect fashion.

Clark has already said she's foregoing her fifth COVID year and is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft. She doesn't need a title to cement her legacy, but it sure would be a perfect sendoff.

Iowa's win ends a remarkable run by UConn , which reached the Final Four despite having just eight available players after a rash of injuries.

STREAM:March Madness on ESPN+ and Fubo

Reactions to offensive foul call on Aaliyah Edwards in final seconds

When Aaliyah Edwards was called for an offensive foul in the final seconds of the game, UConn coach Geno Auriemma looked as if he'd been punched in the gut.

ESPN's Scott Van Pelt and Andraya Carter didn't agree with the ref's call either.

"I hated the call. You've got to give Gabbie Marshall credit for trying to fight over the screen. That's what drew the refs' attention in," Carter said on the postgame show.

"But to me, now that final play, it's not about Iowa's defense. It's about the call the referee made. There was a slight lean, maybe Aaliyah Edwards' elbow was slightly out. But to be honest, the calls were even for both sides. There were missed calls for Iowa. There was missed contact for UConn. To make that call at the very end of the game – to me, it took away the opportunity for players to make plays. … To be honest, that call sucked."

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said she didn't see the offensive foul. "Caitlin Clark really didn't have freedom of movement. But you know at this point, they're not going to call a lot. Especially after last year, when Caitlin and Angel were on the bench. I just think you're not going to see a lot of calls."

MORE: Where's accountability, transparency in women's officiating? Coaches want to know

Later, Edwards said she thought the play was "clean." Teammate Paige Bueckers then weighed in: "Everybody can make a big deal out of one single play, but one single play doesn't win or lose a basketball game. ... You can look at one play and say, oh that killed us or that hurt us. We should have done a better job, I should have done a better job making sure I didn't leave the game up to that."

Opinion: Hannah Stuelke, not Caitlin Clark, lifts Iowa to title game

CLEVELAND — Caitlin Clark tried to tell you. All year, she told you exactly what to watch for with Iowa.

No, not her.

Hannah Stuelke.

Clark suggested earlier this year that the soft-spoken sophomore might break all her records one day and, after a night like this, it's easy to believe it. Clark and Iowa are in the national championship game for a second consecutive year, and it's Stuelke who got them there.

She scored a team-high 23 on 9-of-12 shooting, and carried Iowa until Clark and the rest of the Hawkeyes found their groove late in the game. She got her fingers on the ball after Clark missed a second free throw, tipping it to Sydney Affolter and giving Iowa possession with three seconds left. Read Nancy Armour's entire column here.

Caitlin Clark after win: 'Takes all five of us'

Clark, who had 21 points but was held in check for much of the night, praised her teammates after Iowa's 71-69 victory over UConn in a semifinal game at the Final Four.

"Our offense wasn't great tonight but we played great defense,'' Clark told ESPN's Holly Rowe. "And sometimes that's what you need to win, so I'm just proud of our girls to find a way to win.''

Clark, asked how she avoided getting frustrated while being shadowed by UConn's Nika Muhl, replied, "I thought my teammates stepped up and did a really good job. Made some big baskets when we needed it, so I couldn't be more proud of them. It takes all five of us."

Iowa survives UConn, 71-69

Caitlin Clark and Iowa outlasted UConn 71-69 Friday in a semifinal matchup at the Final Four, advancing to the national championship. The Hawkeyes will play undefeated South Carolina (37-0) for the national championship Sunday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

Despite a slow start, Clark finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Hannah Stuelke led Iowa in scoring with 23 points.

UConn had a chance to take the lead in the final seconds, but the Huskies' Aaliyah Edwards was called for an offensive foul in the frontcourt. Edwards and Paige Bueckers had 17 points apiece for UConn.

Clark had only six points in the first half after shooting 3-for-11 from the floor and missing all six of her 3-point attempts. It was the first time Clark failed to make a 3-pointer in an NCAA Tournament game during her four-year career, according to the ESPN telecast.

Clark was stymied by UConn's Nika Muhl, a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year. But Clark bounced back in the second half.

Yes, down to the wire

UConn's Nika Muhl drained a 3-pointer with just under 40 seconds left to play, cutting Iowa's lead to 70-69. Hold on tight.

Down to the wire?

Back claws UConn, with the Huskies pulling within 68-64 with 2:38 left to play. UConn coach Geno Auriemma promptly called a timeout. Nail-biting time commences.

Hawkeyes surging in fourth quarter

Iowa opened the fourth quarter with a 15-6 surge. The Hawkeyes took a 66-57 lead on Gabbie Marshall's jumper with 5:42 left to play.

Caitlin Clark starts cooking, Iowa leads

Caitlin Clark now has 20 points, and Iowa leads UConn 60-57 with 7½ minutes left in the game.

After going 0-for-6 from 3-point range in the first half, Clark is 3-for-5 from long range in the second half. She also has eight rebounds and six assists.

Third quarter: Iowa 51, UConn 51

Yes, Caitlin Clark finally hit a 3-pointer. Two of them, in fact. The bigger deal: The Hawkeyes looked far better than in the first half. A lot of that has to do with Clark, who has a relatively modest 13 points on 5-for-14 shooting but also has seven rebounds and six assists.

Iowa had almost as many points in the third quarter (25) as they did in the entire first half (26),

Paige Bueckers is also heating up for UConn and now leads the Huskies with 14 points. Freshman KK Arnold has 12 points but she's saddled with four fouls.

UConn's Nika Muhl hurts knee

Short-handed UConn can't afford to lose anyone. And this one would be big.

Nika Muhl went back to the locker room after hurting her knee with about 3 minutes left in the third quarter. She and Edwards got tangled up with an Iowa player under the Hawkeyes' basket, and Muhl appeared to bang her knee on the floor. She grimaced as she sat on the floor and play continued before getting up and limping to the other end of the floor. She was subbed out -- despite KK Arnold picking up her fourth foul -- and ran back to the locker room. She returned after about 2 minutes but is clearly hobbled.

Four-point play for Caitlin Clark

Now that's the Caitlin Clark we know. She converted a four-point play after getting fouled while making a 3-pointer and making the bonus free throw. That pulled Iowa to within one point of UConn at 44-43 with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

Iowa hanging tough vs. UConn in third quarter

Despite Clark's shooting struggles, Iowa's very much in this game. The Hawkeyes trailed throughout the first half but tied the game earlier in the third quarter before UConn edged ahead again.

UConn leads 41-39 with about five minutes left in the quarter.

A key: the Hawkeyes have taken far better control of the basketball in the second half.

Caitlin Clark finally hits from three

The drought is over. Clark made her first 3-pointer of the game with 8:09 left in the third quarter after six consecutive misses from 3-point range. The basket cut UConn's lead to 36-34.

Halftime: UConn 32, Iowa 26

Caitlin Clark has only six points at the half after shooting 3-for-11 from the floor and missing all six of her 3-point attempts. It's the first time Clark has failed to make a 3-pointer in an NCAA Tournament game during her four-year career, according to the ESPN telecast.

Clark has been stymied by UConn's Nika Muhl, a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year. While Clark struggled to find open shots, she did have six rebounds and four assists.

But Clark also has three turnovers and collectively, Iowa has 12 against UConn's tough defense.

Freshman KK Arnold leads UConn with 10 points, and Paige Bueckers has six points on 3-of-9 shooting.

Three UConn players already have two fouls apiece

UConn is losing the numbers game.

The Huskies only have eight players after a rash of injuries this season. And with more than three minutes left in the first half, Nika Muhl, Aaliyah Edwards and KK Arnold all have two fouls.

Caitlin Clark struggling as Iowa trails

UConn has opened up a 25-16 lead with just under seven minutes left in the second quarter while Iowa's Caitlin Clark continues to struggle. She is 1-for-6 shooting and has missed all four of her 3-point attempts.

Clark does have three assists, but she's also committed three turnovers. As a team, the Hawkeyes already have committed 10 turnovers.

UConn leads at start of second quarter

Caitlin Clark is off to a slow start, shooting 1-for-5 from the floor. She missed all three of her 3-point attempts and has struggled to find open shots while being defended by UConn's Nika Muhl. Her only points came on a layup.

Not only has Muhl contained Clark, but she's also made 3-pointers while sparking the Huskies, who led by as many as eight points in the quarter.

UConn leads as Caitlin Clark off to mortal start

Iowa's Caitlin Clark is off to a mortal start as the Hawkeyes have fallen behind UConn 16-11 with about two minutes left in the first quarter. Clark is 1-for-4 shooting and has missed both of her 3-point attempts.

KK Arnold has six points for the Huskies, who pulled ahead with an 8-0 run.

Brent Clark, Caitlin's dad, sneaks his own snacks into arena

Brent Clark is such a dad.

He was spotted by TV cameras before Friday's game, munching on snacks that were hidden in the front pocket of his jacket. No word on what those snacks were.

Special Caitlin Clark gear created by Kristin Juszczyk

Clothing designer Kristin Juszczyk, who has made a name for herself designing one-of-a-kind sports jackets and coats, of course completed a Caitlin Clark coat for the Final Four.

Kristin modeled the coat and posed with her husband, San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, in an Instagram post Friday to show off a couple of her Clark designs.

What makes Caitlin Clark so good?

We asked some hoops legends for their thoughts on the generational talent. Steph Curry, Maya Moore, Kelsey Mitchell and others broke down her game, explaining what makes her so good.

Caitlin Clark and the 2024 Paris Olympics

Could Clark make the 2024 Olympic roster for the Paris Games? It's complicated.

Caitlin Clark: Complete guide to Iowa superstar's career

Caitlin Clark is the reigning national player of the year, a sharpshooting supernova with a penchant for launching 3-pointers from the logo , flicking no-look passes through defenders' arms and talking trash to any and all who stand in her way.

The postseason for Clark and Iowa starts next week, with the Hawkeyes playing in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten conference tournament. No matter what happens in the next few days, Iowa is expected to earn a top four seed in the NCAA tournament, and host the first two rounds. A year after leading Iowa to the national championship game , Clark is trying to get back to her second consecutive Final Four, an accomplishment few players have achieved. USA TODAY Sports has been tracking her game closely. In case you need to brush up on your Clark trivia, we've got you covered with our complete guide to all things Clark .

Paige Bueckers' stats

Paige Bueckers' tournament stats this time around are nothing short of sensational: Through four games she's averaging 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.3 steals and shooting 51.5% from the field. — Lindsay Schnell

Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers history

The two first faced off during the 2021 season . Clark was a freshman just starting to turn heads, and Bueckers was already the best player in the country after coming in as the most highly touted freshman. The first matchup went something like this: 21 points, three rebounds, five assists and five turnovers for Clark vs. 18 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two turnovers for Bueckers. UConn won 92-72 .

But that was three years ago, before Clark became Clark (aka the all-time leading scorer in college hoops , men or women) and Bueckers suffered through two season-ending injuries. She went a staggering 720 days between NCAA Tournament games. — Lindsay Schnell

How many national championships has Iowa won?

The Hawkeyes have yet to win a national championship in women's college basketball, so they have zero titles. — Victoria Hernandez

How many national championships has Iowa been to?

Iowa has been to one national championship game. With Caitlin Clark dominating the entire season, they faced LSU in last year's title game and lost, 102-85 . If the Hawkeyes defeat No. 3 UConn in this year's Final Four, they will make a second consecutive national championship game appearance. — Victoria Hernandez

How many times has Iowa been to the Final Four?

This is the third time the Iowa Hawkeyes will be in the Final Four. They are returning to the national semifinal where they beat South Carolina, 77-73, last year to advance to the championship game. They then lost the title game to LSU. The Hawkeyes' first Final Four appearance was in 1993 when C. Vivian Stringer was the coach. The Hawkeyes lost to Ohio State, 73-72, in overtime in the national semifinal. Stringer was the first coach in college basketball history to take three different schools to the Final Four when she did so with Cheyney State in 1982, Iowa in 1993, and Rutgers in 2000 and 2007. — Victoria Hernandez

Are you ready for Paige vs. Caitlin, Round 2?

You better be. Because Friday at the Women's Final Four, we're getting that rematch. Her full name, of course, is Paige Bueckers. But like Caitlin Clark, she is so good, so famous and so transcendent beyond basketball that she goes by only one name.

If only we all had that kind of star power. Read Lindsay Schnell's full story .

When does Caitlin Clark play next?

Caitlin Clark and top-seeded Iowa take to the court tonight in Cleveland against No. 3 UConn. They tip off at about 9:30 p.m. ET.

What time is the Iowa vs. UConn game?

The top-seeded Hawkeyes tip off against the No. 3 Huskies at 9:30 p.m.

Iowa vs. UConn prediction

USA TODAY Sports' Lindsay Schnell is picking Paige Bueckers and the UConn to win while Nancy Armour is picking Caitlin Clark and Iowa to win .

How to watch Iowa vs. UConn

ESPN is airing and streaming Iowa vs. UConn .

How many national championships has UConn been to?

Connecticut has been to the national championship 12 times. The Huskies have won the title all but once, in 2022 when they lost to South Carolina, 64-49 .

There is a possibility of a rematch of that game this year if the Huskies and Gamecocks each win their Final Four semifinal. — Victoria Hernandez

How many national championships has UConn won?

The Huskies have won 11 national championships, tied with the UCLA men's team for the most of any program in Division I college basketball, and all under head coach Geno Auriemma. Connecticut won the title in 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Six of those seasons (1995, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2016) were undefeated. — Victoria Hernandez

How many times has UConn been to the Final Four?

UConn has been to the Final Four 23 times , all under head coach Geno Auriemma. This is the record for most Final Four appearances of any team in Division I college basketball − men's or women's. The Huskies' first trip to the Final Four was in 1991 when they lost in the semifinal to Virginia, 61-55. They've since gone back to the Final Four in 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024. The tournament was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their streak of 14 consecutive Final Four appearances from 2008 to 2022 was broken when Ohio State beat UConn, 73-61, in the Sweet 16 last season. — Victoria Hernandez

Getting tipsy before tip-off?

Is it too early for adult beverages? Apparently not when you're hosting an alternate ESPN telecast during the women's Final Four.

Hey, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi , what's in those red Solo cups?

UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who was asked after their first show in 2022 if he would watch it later , drew laughter when he said: "I didn't record it, and the chances of me watching it are less than zero. When you've been around those two as long as I have, I really truly have no interest in hearing anything they have to say. On any topic, especially me. But I'm sure they were funny as hell, and I'm sure whatever I see they were drinking didn't come from the store."

Former UConn stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird give viewers their take

Wondering what Sue Bird thinks? Curious about Diana Taurasi's thoughts? Well, you're in luck.

For the third year in a row , the former UConn stars are teaming up on ESPN's alternate broadcast during the Final Four. The telecast is underway on ESPN2 and their drinking from red Solo cups has commenced.

Super Bowl champion Chiefs rooting for Caitlin Clark

Care to wager on who the defending Super Bowl champions are rooting for in Friday night's Final Four nightcap?

The Kansas City Chiefs shared a photo of Iowa star Caitlin Clark wearing a Chiefs jersey as a young girl.

"You cheered for us. Now it's our turn!

All of Chiefs Kingdom is rooting for you tonight, @CaitlinClark22 "

Opinion: Caitlin Clark got people's attention. There's talent to make them stay

These are heady times for women's basketball and, by extension, women's sports.

Caitlin Clark is a household name. Iowa and LSU's rematch of last year's title game drew more than 12 million viewers , such a bonkers number it beat all but one college football game this season. The best seats for Friday night's Final Four games will set you back more than $7,000, each, and it's around $400 just to get in the door.

"This is exactly what we wanted for women's basketball," Clark said Thursday. "But also I feel like it could have been a thing a long time ago."

Read Nancy Armour's full column .

Caitlin Clark stats

As Iowa's Caitlin Clark continues to rewrite the record books, USA TODAY Sports is tracking all her stats during the NCAA Tournament. Here's everything you need to know about the superstar guard. Here is an in-depth, illustrated look at the Iowa star and her race to the all-time NCAA Division I scoring record.

Why Paige Bueckers, UConn will beat Caitlin Clark, Iowa in the Final Four

You've heard of Paige Bueckers , right? Iowa coach Lisa Bluder certainly has, praising her the day before the Hawkeyes take on Bueckers and UConn in Friday's Final Four. Bueckers, Bluder said, separates herself because she can "stop on a dime and elevate with her shot."

Bluder's right. And Bueckers' skill and athleticism, coupled with her size (she's a strong 6-feet) will be the difference in Paige vs. Caitlin Clark, Round 2 , and the reason UConn advances. ( UConn won Round 1 , a Sweet 16 matchup in 2001).

The biggest reason that UConn will win: They've been here before. A lot. More specifically coach Geno Auriemma has been here a lot — he's won 11 of these. As one of the best strategists in the game, he'll have a good plan against Clark . And don't forget that in March and April, no one in women's college basketball knows more about winning than Auriemma. Read Lindsay Schnell's full story .

Why Caitlin Clark, Iowa will beat Paige Bueckers, UConn in the Final Four

Iowa doesn't want to make the NCAA Tournament into its 2024 Revenge Tour. Nor does coach Lisa Bluder want the Hawkeyes games turning into a showdown between Caitlin Clark and, in this case, Paige Bueckers. OK, then how about Survival of the Fittest?

Given the pace with which Iowa likes to play and the need to, if not contain Clark try to limit her damage, this matchup might be too much for UConn's limited resources.

Clark is going to Clark . She's averaging a little over 32 points in the NCAA Tournament after dropping 41 on LSU in the Elite Eight on Monday night , when she also had 12 assists and seven rebounds. After a rough start to the tournament, she appears to have fully settled in and good luck to anyone when that happens. Read Nancy Armour's full story .

Is Caitlin Clark or Paige Bueckers college basketball's best player? What the stats say

Caitlin Clark will almost certainly be the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft on April 15, while Paige Bueckers will return to UConn next season as the early favorite for 2024-25 national player of the year honors. But how do the superstar guards stack up on the court? And what do the stats say? USA TODAY dove into the numbers of their freshman seasons in 2020-21, their current seasons, their play so far in the 2024 NCAA Tournament and their one head-to-head meeting. Read it in full .

UConn's Geno Auriemma on facing Caitlin Clark: 'I don't need her dropping 50 on us'

Geno Auriemma knows Caitlin Clark is coming for the UConn Huskies . And with that in mind, he wants to get one thing out of the way before Clark and Iowa match up with UConn in the second national semifinal on Friday in Cleveland: He has nothing against her. Nothing at all.

"Yeah, I hope Caitlin Clark had a personal agenda against LSU," Auriemma said after Clark dropped 41 and Iowa exacted some revenge on the defending champion Tigers in a 94-87 win in their regional final, booking a trip to their second consecutive Final Four.

"I know there's nothing personal between me and her. I don't need to be seeing her drop 50 on us next weekend," Auriemma deadpanned before laughing along with reporters. "I love her. I think she's the best player. Forget I ever said Paige (Bueckers) is the best player in the country. I think (Caitlin's) the best player of all time. I don't know whoever said Paige is the best player." — Lindsay Schnell

Caitlin Clark scoring record: How Iowa's superstar did it

Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA all-time scoring record this season. Here's an illustrated breakdown of every one of her points.

We also asked some hoops legends for their thoughts on the generational talent. Steph Curry, Maya Moore, Kelsey Mitchell and others broke down her game, explaining what makes her so special.

Caitlin Clark average points per game

Iowa superstar guard Caitlin Clark is averaging 32 points per game this season on 46% shooting. She also averages 9 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. We are tracking all of Caitlin Clark's stats here .

Caitlin Clark 3-point percentage

Caitlin Clark is shooting 38 percent from 3-point range this season. For her career at Iowa, she is shooting 38.8 percent from 3.

Kim Mulkey on Caitlin Clark

Kim Mulkey paid Caitlin Clark the ultimate compliment. Mulkey and Clark had a moment in the handshake line and the LSU coach said she told Iowa's star , "I sure am glad you're leaving. Girl you're something else. Never seen anything like it."

UConn WBB roster

Here is the UConn women's basketball roster .

How to stream Iowa vs. UConn

All games will be broadcast on ESPN. Here are additional streaming options to watch all the action on your devices.

How to watch March Madness: Watch all tournament games with a subscription to fuboTV

Iowa vs. UConn odds

The Iowa Hawkeyes are favorites to defeat the UConn Huskies in Friday's Final Four matchup, according to the BetMGM college basketball odds .

Spread: Iowa (-2.5)
Moneylines: Iowa (-142); UConn (+120)
Over/under: 163

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iowa-UConn highlights: Caitlin Clark, Hawkeyes fight off Huskies

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