Caitlin Clark shares what Iowa learned from 2023 title game run ahead of rematch with LSU

Caitlin Clark, now hours away from a 2023 national title rematch with LSU for a spot in Final Four on the line, said she honestly can’t remember many specific details from Iowa’s run a year ago. But she still knows they learned a valuable lesson.

And that’s the knowledge that these games, where teams are tested, seasoned and all certainly good, things are likely going to hinge on one, maybe two possessions late in the game. Playing with that knowledge, and trusting they can win any game so long as they get a shot at the end — especially with Clark — Iowa is likely better equipped to get a win against the Tigers this time around.

“But to be honest, the run we went on last year, it goes so fast and it kind of is a blur at this point,” Clark said. “I almost remember everything in between the basketball games better than the actual basketball games and I think the biggest thing to take away from that is everything comes down to one possession. I think that’s what our group learned from that journey, is we played in a lot of really tight, close games. And being able to execute down the stretch is really important and I think that’s the biggest thing. I’m sorry my memory’s not very great, but that’s all I got.”

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And while Clark knows there are lessons to be learned from past victories and defeats, she’s not trying to dwell on anything that’s behind her at this point.

“Ever since the season started, my focus is 1-0 every single time we take the court and I think that’s exactly what coach Lisa Bluder preaches,” Clark said. “It’s like, I’m not caught up in the past, I’m not caught up in the future. I try to keep my feet right in the present and be where my feet are and prepare one game at a time and I think I wouldn’t be able to be the player I am if I was took worried about what has happened or what is going to happen. And yeah, you can learn from everything. 

Bluder also discussed the rematch on Monday

Bluder knows what’s coming for Iowa: a rematch with LSU in the Elite 8 on Monday. Following a dominant win over Colorado, the Hawkeyes and Tigers will meet again.

Sure, it’s a battle of stars featuring Clark and Angel Reese, but this is a different game in 2024. Last year’s national championship was all LSU and Kim Mulkey’s squad earned every second.

For Bluder and company, they’ve kept focus straight ahead and not in the past.

“Yeah, we got run out of the gym last year,” Bluder said postgame. “So you know, it was pretty bad. But you know, honestly, we try to keep, just keep looking straight ahead and not listen to the outside noise and I think my team has done a good job of staying off social media. Try not to get caught up in that. I think when you get caught up in all that, now it takes your energy off the focus that you need at hand and that is to prepare for a really good LSU team. Nothing else matters. 

“Nothing matters that happened last year. Nothing matters except for being ready to play this really good LSU team and you know, I just don’t think my players are gonna get caught up in listening to outside voices. They haven’t all year. They’ve handled it all year, and I think that they’ll continue to do so.”