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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS | South Carolina defeats Iowa in NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in Cleveland

Thousands of fans were in downtown Cleveland to watch Iowa and South Carolina compete for the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.

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CLEVELAND — All eyes were on Cleveland today as the South Carolina Gamecocks finished a perfect 38-0 season after defeating Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.

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The Final Four in Cleveland began with the semifinals on Friday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Unbeaten South Carolina pulled away from NC State 78-59, and then Caitlin Clark and Iowa came from behind to defeat Paige Bueckers and UConn 71-69.

RELATED: Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark shouts out Rock Hall on first trip to Cleveland: 'It's been awesome'

Leading up to, during, and after the big game, 3News had extensive coverage of the sights and sounds around the city as fans flocked to The Land to see some of the best women's basketball.

Post Game

Staley on future of WBB: “I just want our game to grow. I don’t care if it’s us, I don’t care if it’s Caitlin. … There’s a lot of programs that are out there that are growing our game. We need to continue to lift them.”

She continued to praise Clark for her impact. @wkyc
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Staley on what she has built at South Carolina: “We have quietly done things, in my opinion, the right way.”

“We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing the right way, whether we are [among] the popular or unpopular, the successful programs in the country.” ⁦@wkyc⁩ pic.twitter.com/JLGh4gps3B
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Dawn Staley: “I wasn’t going to allow what I felt happened to us last year to happen this year. … I had a little PTSD.” @wkyc
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Paopao on Dawn Staley: “We’d run through a brick wall for her.”

Kamilla Cardoso fought back tears talking about the impact Staley has had on her as a mother-like figure. @wkyc
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Te-Hina Paopao on how this South Carolina team meshed together so well for an undefeated season: “It’s love throughout this whole program, throughout this whole team.” @wkyc
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Raven Johnson on beating Iowa a year after losing to them in the semis: “It was a revenge tour, & there’s no better way [to complete it] than to play them in the championship game & beat ‘em.” @wkyc pic.twitter.com/rMfNsRTqWv
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Dawn Staley & the Gamecocks sporting some impressive hardware. 🏆 ⁦@wkyc⁩ pic.twitter.com/TiXZL5sBb9
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Bluder on coaching her Hawkeyes team: “It’s so empowering being around these women. … I wish everybody’s workplace could be like mine is.” @wkyc
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Lisa Bluder says when Caitlin Clark arrived at Iowa as a freshman, she predicted a Final Four trip.

“We believed, she believed, & she got everybody else in that locker room to believe.”

Adds, “She has done amazing things to grow our game & do it the right way.” @wkyc pic.twitter.com/iq8vkEGxBD
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Caitlin Clark on the future of women’s basketball & women’s sports: “Give them the same opportunities, believe in them the same, invest in them the same, & things are gonna thrive.” @wkyc
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

An obviously emotional Caitlin Clark after her final college game: “The emotions will probably hit me over the next couple of days. … “It is sad that this is all over.”

Expresses pride in her teammates & Iowa, & adds, “South Carolina’s just so good.” @wkyc pic.twitter.com/zRgpbry5P9
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Celebrations

The legendary Dawn Staley cutting down the net after South Carolina wins the crown 🏆👑🏀@wkyc pic.twitter.com/PSvHtCku3W
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WKYC Cleveland (@wkyc3)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WKYC Cleveland (@wkyc3)

South Carolina’s Dawn Staley takes a moment to thank Caitlin Clark for her impact on women’s basketball @wkyc pic.twitter.com/ErNlOrpF79
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Dayton Ohio’s own Bree Hall cutting down the net after South Carolina’s win! @wkyc pic.twitter.com/zAM6VINA2K
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

A PERFECT SEASON

South Carolina wins the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship

The Gamecocks finish with a perfect 38-0 record.@wkyc pic.twitter.com/QaIAr1CRNo
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

National Championship Game

Iowa came out, punched South Carolina in the mouth early today and the Gamecocks never even blinked or flinched.

It appears South Carolina will win the National Championship and complete an undefeated 38-0 season.

So impressive.
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) April 7, 2024

Final score:

South Carolina 87
Iowa 75

The Gamecocks win the 2024 Women's College Basketball National Championship in Cleveland.

It was a great weekend of hoops.
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) April 7, 2024

South Carolina leading 68-59 at the end of the third quarter.

Tessa Johnson, who came off the bench, is leading the team in points with 15. @wkyc pic.twitter.com/lQlLp766Qt
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Momentum shift? 👀

South Carolina leads by 3 at half following this Raven Johnson steal & score. @wkyc pic.twitter.com/lcyow8MzVn
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

HALFTIME | South Carolina leads 49-46 against Iowa in the National Championship.

Caitlin Clark with 21 points for the Hawkeyes. Kamilla Cardoso with 11 points for the Gamecocks.

A thrilling game in Cleveland so far.@wkyc
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

:59 seconds to go in the first half…

Iowa 44
South Carolina 44

Tremendous National Championship Game so far.
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) April 7, 2024

South Carolina has taken a 36-34 lead with 4:34 left in the second quarter.

This is the Gamecock's first lead of the game.@wkyc
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

And just like that, we’re tied…

Kamilla Cardoso is a treat to watch.
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) April 7, 2024

Iowa Hawkeyes with a 27-20 lead over the Gamecocks at the end of the first quarter. @wkyc pic.twitter.com/8axHe5ABKa
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Caitlin Clark with 18 first quarter points. She’s unconscious right now.

Iowa up 27-20 after the first quarter.
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) April 7, 2024

Iowa’s fast start feels forever ago.

South Carolina on a 11-2 run and looking locked in.
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) April 7, 2024

Definitely a partisan Iowa crowd (& yes, that was Caitlin Clark with the 3 🫨). @wkyc pic.twitter.com/elrn6IMqjB
— Tyler Carey (@TC_CLE) April 7, 2024

Actor Jason Sudeikis has returned to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse as Iowa competes in the National Championship@wkyc pic.twitter.com/vRbIDRNfHT
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Caitlin Clark is already off to an amazing start in her last game with the Hawkeyes. In the first five minutes, Clark has 13 points.

Hawkeyes leading South Carolina 20-9 with 4:45 left in the first quarter. @wkyc
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Iowa Hawkeyes are off to a fast start going on a 7-0 start to open up the first quarter against undefeated South Carolina @wkyc
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Pregame

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WKYC Cleveland (@wkyc3)

Caitlin Clark warming up, draining 3s ahead of the last game of her career with the Iowa Hawkeyes #WFinalFour @wkyc pic.twitter.com/WJ68ouLhWg
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

South Carolina warming up as they look to win the National Championship against Iowa and finish with an undefeated record @wkyc pic.twitter.com/qqBnwlPJp5
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Teams arrive on the red carpet

Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes have arrived for the National Championship @wkyc pic.twitter.com/E8zIeNDfrc
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

More from Iowa’s red carpet arrival in Cleveland @wkyc pic.twitter.com/5hp91Va9LN
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Cleveland has turned into Hawkeyes nation! @wkyc pic.twitter.com/dqBr1w6ONH
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley on the red carpet ahead of the NCAA Championship @wkyc pic.twitter.com/xNWDi2BUN9
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Thousands of fans lined up outside of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse waiting for the arrival of Iowa and South Carolina@wkyc pic.twitter.com/9AZBijuTyA
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Outside the arena

Lots of basketball fans hanging around East 4th Street in Cleveland ahead of todays NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship @wkyc pic.twitter.com/pnJQqdsEby
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Happy Championship Sunday! The party in Cleveland has already started and the sunshine is out!! @wkyc pic.twitter.com/6ppW45gzNN
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

It’s a beautiful day in Cleveland for a NCAA Women’s Basketball Champion to be crowned 🏆🏀
@wkyc #WFinalFour pic.twitter.com/6bJVWoxIk3
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

Inside the arena

We are less than 3 hours away from Iowa and South Carolina tipping off in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship🏆

@wkyc pic.twitter.com/77Uh3epFnM
— Anna Meyer (@ByAnnaMeyer) April 7, 2024

RELATED: 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four: How to watch South Carolina vs. Iowa, betting line

MORE FINAL FOUR COVERAGE:

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