National Championship Preview
The Iowa women’s basketball team clinched its first berth in a NCAA Tournament National Championship Game on Friday. Now, they take on LSU for a spot in the history books.
Read our coverage leading up to this afternoon’s national championship game below.
Scenes from Friday and Saturday in Dallas
Destined for Dallas
Our special section highlights the Hawkeyes of past and present, including our coverage of Caitlin Clark’s journey to Iowa, the transcendent fandom of the 1993 Hawkeyes, and more. Read the full e-edition here.
Championship Caliber
Information by Chris Werner | Assistant Sports Editor | [email protected]
Page by Jami Martin-Trainor | Assistant Digital Editor | [email protected]
No. 2 Iowa (31-6)
Fast Facts
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Enrollment: 31,317
Conference: Big Ten
Mascot: Hawkeyes
Coach: Lisa Bluder (23rd season)
Final Four appearances: Two (2023, 1993)
Road to the National Championship Game
RO64 — 95-43 over No. 15 SE Louisiana
RO32 — 74-66 over No. 10 Georgia
Sweet 16 — 87-77 over No. 6 Colorado
Elite Eight — 97-83 over No. 5 Louisville
Final Four — 77-73 over No. 1 South Carolina
Statistical Leaders
Points per game
Caitlin Clark – 27.3
Monika Czinano – 17.2
McKenna Warnock – 11.1
Rebounds per game
Caitlin Clark – 7.3
Monika Czinano – 6.6
McKenna Warnock – 6.0
Assists per game
Caitlin Clark – 8.6
Kate Martin – 3.6
McKenna Warnock –1.9
Top Player
Junior guard Caitlin Clark is not only Iowa’s top player but may be the nation’s top player, too. Clark is an offensive servant. From logo 3-pointers, pull-up jumpers, and driving layups, to pinpoint passes from all over the floor, the Big Ten’s scoring and assists leader can do it all on the offensive end.
Why Iowa can win the national title
Iowa has Caitlin Clark, that’s the main reason the Hawkeyes can win it all this season. But Iowa has put a steady, experienced team around her. The Hawkeyes are rolling with the same starting five for the third year in a row, and Clark’s sidekick Monika Czinano is one of the nation’s premier post players.
No. 3 LSU (33-2)
Fast Facts
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Enrollment: 37,354
Conference: Southeastern
Mascot: Tigers
Coach: Kim Mulkey (2nd season)
Final Four appearances: Six (2023, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004)
Road to the National Championship Game
RO64 — 73-50 over No. 14 Hawaii
RO32 — 66-42 over No. 6 Michigan
Sweet 16 — 66-63 over No. 2 Utah
Elite Eight — 54-42 over No. 9 Miami
Final Four — 79-72 over No. 1 Virginia Tech
Statistical Leaders
Points per game
Angel Reese – 23.2
Alexis Morris – 14.9
Flau’jae Johnson – 11.1
Rebounds per game
Angel Reese – 15.7
LaDazhia Williams – 6.0
Flau’jae Johnson – 5.9
Assists per game
Alexis Morris – 4.1
Kateri Poole – 2.4
Angel Reese – 2.2
Top Player
After two seasons at Maryland, Angel Reese came to LSU before the 2022-23 season. The 6-foot-3 junior has averaged a double-double for the past two seasons and has shot the ball above 50 percent from the floor in each of those years. The Baltimore, Maryland, native has scored in double figures in every game this season and has been held under 15 points just twice.
Why LSU can win the national title
Angel Reese is a force down low, and Tigers’ head coach Kim Mulkey knows how to win championships. Reese is the SEC’s top scorer and the fifth-best bucket-getter in the country. Couple a bonafide superstar in Reese and a coach in Mulkey who has won three national championships as a coach and two as a player and you’ve got a contender.