They say everything is bigger in Texas. On the biggest stage for women’s college basketball, the last two Naismith Player of Year winners, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, square off in the Women’s Final Four on Friday for a spot in Sunday’s National Championship game when Iowa battles South Carolina Friday in Dallas.
The matchup between the South Carolina Gamecocks (36-0) and Iowa Hawkeyes (30-6) present many storylines, including the matchup of two of the sports’ brightest stars. Clark averages 27.3 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game for an Iowa team that reached the Final Four for the first time in 30 years. Then there’s Boston, the low-post dynamo for the Gamecocks, a perennial First-Team All-American forward averaging 13.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game trying to cap off her college career with an undefeated season. In addition, Boston was named National Defensive Player of the Year.
The game within the game will be how opposing defenses plan to stop the star players. For South Carolina, SEC All-Defense stalwart Brea Beal will most likely take the task of trying to stifle Caitlin Clark, whose limitless range presents problems for defenders.
While guarding the opponent’s best player has limited Beal’s offensive output, it’s a challenge she takes on.
“We’re a defensively minded team,” Beal told the Associated Press. “When we come to this part of the season, we definitely need our defense from every single individual.”
The challenges of guarding Aliyah Boston
For Iowa, guarding Aliyah Boston also presents challenges. Coming off a 22-point, 10-rebound, and five-assist effort against Maryland in the Elite 8, Boston is poised to lead her team back to the title game for the second straight season. The matchup between Boston and Monika Czinano, a four-time First-Team all-Big Ten selection, will also be one to watch.
Czinano, the team’s second-leading scorer, is averaging 17.2 points and 6.6 assists for the Hawkeyes.
Another thing to watch in this semifinal matchup is South Carolina guard Zia Cooke; the senior guard has been streaky lately, shooting above 40 percent from the field just once in the NCAA Tournament (42 percent in the second round vs. South Florida). In addition, South Carolina will need its leading scorer (15.1 ppg) against Iowa, which scores a nation-best 87.5 points per game.
“Everyone has their attention all over the place for their specific fan bases, but I feel like everybody has been looking forward to this matchup since last year when we were supposed to meet up,” Boston told reporters. “It’s a great game.”
LSU makes first Women’s Final Four return in 15 years
In the other game, LSU (32-2) makes its first Final Four appearance since 2008 against a Virginia Tech (31-4) making its first-ever appearance on this stage.
There’s a dynamic forward for the Tigers, Angel Reese, who transferred from Maryland and transformed an LSU roster into a title contender by averaging 23.2 points and grabbing 15.7 points per game. The Tigers also get 14.9 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.7 steals from guard Angel Reese.
Virginia Tech, which joins South Carolina as the only other top seed remaining, runs through their center Elizabeth Kitley, the two-time ACC Player of the Year, steadies the Hokies with 18.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. Georgia Amoore runs the offense for Tech, scoring 16.7 points per game and adding five assists per night.
The game also features a coaching legend in Kim Mulkey, who left Baylor in 2021 after three national titles to take over LSU’s program, returning the Tigers to the Final Four in just her second year.