Dawn Staley Thanks Caitlin Clark in Her NCAA Championship Speech for ‘Lifting Up Our Sport’

Mar. 15, 2025

AP Coach of the Year Dawn Staley and AP Player of the Year Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes.Photo:Gregory Shamus/Getty

Gregory Shamus/Getty

After the South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes to win the NCAA championship, head coachDawn Staleytook a moment during her victory speech to celebrateCaitlin Clark.

Staley, 53,said, “I have to congratulate Iowa on an incredible season,” before she shouted out Clark, 22, specifically during her speech at the podium.

“I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,” the head coach continued.

“She carried a heavy load for our sport, and it just isn’t gonna stop here on the collegiate tour, but when she’s the number one pick in the WNBA draft she’s going to lift that league up as well.”

Staley, who won her third national championship on Sunday, added, “So Caitlin Clark, if you’re out there you are one of the GOATS of our game and we appreciate you.”

After the win, the Gamecocks became the first team to have completed a perfect season since UConn in 2016, perNBC News.

Clark finished the championship game with 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists in Iowa’s 87-75 loss to South Carolina.

Before her kind words about Clark, Staleyspokeabout what the championship win means for her Gamecocks after they finished their season undefeated.

Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after beating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 07, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. South Carolina beat Iowa 87-75.Gregory Shamus/Getty

“They made history. They etched their names in the history books when this is the unlikeliest group to do it,” Staley told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the win.

“God is funny like that. He’s funny. He rips your heart out and he makes you believe. He makes you believe the unimaginable,” the coach added.

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As her team celebrated on the court, Staley said, “I’m so incredibly happy for our players. It doesn’t always end like you want it to end, much like last year, but my freshies are at the top of my heart because they wanted this.”

source: people.com