Caitlin Clark checks out for final time in national championship loss

The college basketball career of Caitlin Clark fell just short of a storybook ending Sunday as Iowa fell 87-75 to South Carolina in the national championship. It marked the second straight season the Hawkeyes lost in the title game and closed the chapter on Clark’s time in Iowa City.

She did all she could in the loss to finish with 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the loss, etching her name in record books one final time as the NCAA Tournament’s all-time leading scorer.

Clark checked out of the game with 20 seconds remaining to a number of cheers from the Iowa fans on hand in the crowd. She shared a few hugs with the Hawkeyes’ coaching staff, including head coach Lisa Bluder. You can view the moment below.

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Caitlin Clark checks out in her final game with Iowa ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JUwSQTfw8J

— espnW (@espnW) April 7, 2024

Clark left an indelible impact on the game women’s college basketball with her play over the past four seasons. She leaves the game as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history regardless of gender, broke the single-season 3-point record this season and is also the Big Ten’s all-time leader in assists.

A national championship was about the only thing that eluded Clark in her four seasons. Still, she was able to lead Iowa to its first-ever appearance in the title game last year and get the Hawkeyes back this year, and has cemented her legendary status.

Clark is expected to go No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft later this month, so she’ll have plenty of opportunity to add championships in the future.

Dawn Staley calls Caitlin Clark ‘one of the GOATs of our game’

Following South Carolina‘s 87-75 win over Iowa to win the national championship on Sunday, coach Dawn Staley had a special message for the team she had just defeated.

While celebrating on the stage in the middle of the floor following the game, Staley was afforded the chance to make one last comment by ESPN’s Holly Rowe. And, boy, did she deliver.

“I really would just like to say that I have to congratulate Iowa on an incredible season,” Staley said. “Awesome. Awesome. And I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport. She carried a heavy load for our sport and it just is not going to stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she is the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well.”