The top-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes returned to the national championship game by defeating the third-seeded University Huskies 71-69 in the Classic Final Four on Friday night.
Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark had 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Hannah Stuelke had a game-high 23 points. It was Clark's 10th NCAA Tournament game, with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, the most in women's college basketball history since 2000, according to ESPN Stats. Huskies star Paige Bueckers scored 17 points.
UW cut Iowa's lead to one point with 39 seconds left in regulation, forced a turnover and had a chance to win with 9.3 seconds remaining. However, the Huskies were called for an offensive foul, after which the Hawkeyes secured the victory. UW led by as many as 12 points midway through the second quarter, his second largest lead for the Huskies in his NCAA Tournament game since 2000.
Here's how the sports world reacted to Iowa's second consecutive national championship and the controversial foul call at the college competition.
Naaaaaaaaaaaa! ! ! I'm not keen on that call.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 6, 2024
It's so wrong to say that on a game-deciding play, WOW
— Kelsey Plum (@Kelseyplum10) April 6, 2024
It became an instant classic. However, the way the game ends is terrible.Iowa State/University
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) April 6, 2024
Wait, wasn't that screen set to clean?
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 6, 2024
Hats off to whoever is currently in charge of the WNCAA.These girls are playing the most active basketball ever with my mama
— Travis Scott (@trvisXX) April 6, 2024
I don't care what you do, everyone watch the finals on Sunday.Movieiiiiiii
— Travis Scott (@trvisXX) April 6, 2024
What a game! ! Normally, all the talk would be about Caitlin Clark, but Iowa won with strong teamwork, led by Hannah Stuelke's 23 points. Congratulations to the entire team and coaching staff for making it to the national championship for the second year in a row!
— Irvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 6, 2024
I'm really looking forward to the national championship matchup between Iowa and South Carolina! South Carolina is the best team in the country and has a chance to prove it this Sunday.
— Irvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 6, 2024
No, they are cheating on this!! You can't call it that!!
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) April 6, 2024
The referee who called that foul shouldn't be able to make another Final Four for a while. It was terrible and they didn't let the players decide the outcome. I'm sick of those players…it's just awful!
— SwinCash (@SwinCash) April 6, 2024
https://t.co/OyOCr5bSh5 pic.twitter.com/ARtSljTpnJ
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) April 6, 2024
