Battle for Supremacy: Our Experts Predict South Carolina to Triumph Over Iowa in National Championship Showdown

The women’s national championship game between South Carolina and Iowa will be televised live on The Athletic.

The showdown that many people, including ESPN executives, were hoping to watch will conclude the tournament on Sunday night in Cleveland. In a match that can garner record viewing, South Carolina (the greatest defense, the best coach) takes on Iowa (the best offensive, the best player). (Once more)

Did our experts’ selections change after watching Iowa defeat the Gamecocks in the previous season’s Final Four? Will they choose South Carolina, the betting favorite? Or count on Clark and company to keep us guessing and having a good time.

Our writers selected the Final Four properly. (Or rather, they did in every game save one. And for the simple reason that audacity ought to be praised, that writer will be cleared.) Make sure to follow our live blog both before tipoff and during the game as we have our whole staff of The Athletic reporters courtside in Cleveland.

Let us now see who Cameron Teague Robinson, Ben Pickman, Sabreena Merchant, Scott Dochterman, and Chantel Jennings pick.

Dochterman

Three weeks ago, I predicted South Carolina to defeat Iowa, and I am sticking with it now. The Gamecocks are too skilled, deep, effective, and driven. I think South Carolina will be ready for Caitlin Clark, and the Gamecocks have too many players in too many important positions. Jan Jensen, the associate head coach of Iowa, stated “We’ve got to play really, really well — like we did last year — and they’ve got to be a little bit off.”

The pick: South Carolina 82, Iowa 71

Everyone had a great time.xcS10vkEb0 on Twitter

— South Carolina Women’s Basketball (@GamecockWBB) April 6, 2024

Jennings

I am conflicted about this because during the past few seasons, I have witnessed a lot of incredible Caitlin Clark moments in a variety of settings, which kind of leads me to believe they will happen again. Thus, a part of me believes that Clark leading Iowa to its first national championship is the most likely scenario. But since basketball is an X-and-O game, I can not help but notice the Gamecocks’ dominance in the paint. The Hawkeyes cannot expect to be swapping threes for twos, as they may have believed last season, given how well South Carolina has hit the ball from long range this season. Too strong, too well-rounded, and too talented to lose this one.

Iowa 79, South Carolina 85 is the selection.

Merchant

I am not going to make the same error again, given how well my previous choice against South Carolina went. With Dawn Staley moving to 3-0 in national title games, the Gamecocks will exact revenge for their season-ending loss to the Hawkeyes by controlling the glass and banging the ball inside. This will make NCAA history’s 10th unbeaten season a reality.

The pick: South Carolina 84, Iowa 75

Pickman

Regarding Iowa getting even for losing to LSU in the Elite Eight, a lot was written and discussed. In the national championship game on Sunday, South Carolina will have the opportunity to exact its own retribution on the Hawkeyes. However, the reason I am choosing South Carolina is not because I want to exact revenge, but rather because it will be tough to stop the Gamecocks and prepare for them. Any player (or two, or three) can pop on any given night because of their depth. It makes it particularly difficult to plan against the Gamecocks. Caitlin Clark, an Iowa star, has been the sport’s biggest story and has caused a frenzy throughout the season. But a championship will cement South Carolina’s place among the greatest squads in college basketball history.

Iowa 72, South Carolina 78 is the selection.

Cameron Teague Robinson

Right now, I can not choose against South Carolina. Too athletic and too deep are the Gamecocks. If South Carolina wins this game, Ashlyn Watkins will play a major role. The majority of the grunt labor will fall to her. While I doubt Iowa will be able to stop Kamilla Cardoso, I believe Dawn Staley will be able to slow Caitlin Clark down when it matters most. However, I believe that this will be an exciting game that goes right down to the wire.

Iowa 75, South Carolina 81 is the selection.