Iowa vs. LSU : LSU Tigers win their first-ever NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship, defeating Iowa Hawkeyes 102-85 in Dallas on Sunday with Caitlin Clark leading the opposing team. Kim Mulkey’s leadership has been phenomenal, turning around the team from a mere nine wins to championship glory within just two years.
The fight between Iowa vs. LSU. LSU showcased an impressive team effort with five players reaching double figures on the scoreboard. LaDazhia Williams led the charge with 20 points, followed by Angel Reese with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, Alexis Morris with 21 points, Flau’jae Johnson with 10 points and Jasmine Carson with 22 points, putting up a near-perfect performance.
However, the Hawkeyes faced a setback as Caitlin Clark, Monika Czinano and McKenna Warnock found themselves in foul trouble midway through the third quarter. Clark managed to break Sheryl Swoopes’ record for the most points scored in a single tournament, accumulating 30 points and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
Iowa had three players who scored in double figures, with Czinano contributing 13 points and six rebounds before fouling out, Gabbie Marshall with 12 points, and Kate Martin with 13 points and six assists.
The Sporting News provided live scoring updates and highlights for the NCAA Women’s Tournament championship game between Iowa and LSU. Follow for complete results and highlights of the Women’s March Madness national championship game.
Iowa vs. LSU score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| LSU | 27 | 32 | 16 | 27 | 102 |
| Iowa | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 85 |
Stay up-to-date with the latest developments and standout moments of the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball championship game between Iowa and LSU, with live updates and highlights.
At 5:52 p.m., LSU secured their inaugural NCAA championship title with a 102-85 victory. During the handshake line, Coach Mulkey commended Clark as a remarkable player of her generation. The magnitude of the achievement appeared to momentarily leave Mulkey at a loss for words, as she reflected on what it meant to win the championship in her home state of Louisiana and how her team had elevated the standard for the Tigers in a mere two years.
As the clock struck 5:50 p.m., Clark’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament season had caught the nation’s attention, reminiscent of Swoopes’ legendary display in 1993. Although she fell short of securing the championship, Clark still has one more year to lead her team to redemption.
At 5:48 p.m., LSU shattered another record by scoring the most points ever in an NCAA championship game, reaching an impressive 98 points. As Mulkey shed tears of happiness on the sidelines, Reese playfully teased Clark with taunts, pointing at her ring finger in celebration.
At 5:46 p.m., Clark’s costly turnover with just 90 seconds remaining on the clock proved to be a poor decision. LSU, now leading by 13 points, maintained their resolute defense.
Meanwhile, at 5:40 p.m., LSU supporters who were unable to attend the game in Dallas gathered at a watch party in their campus arena in Baton Rouge, joyously celebrating their team’s success.
5:39 p.m.: American Airlines Center is sold out, according to the women’s Final Four Twitter.
At 5:36 p.m., Czinano’s foul-out marked the conclusion of her career on the grandest stage of basketball. Despite the disappointment, Czinano finished the game with respectable figures of 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Meanwhile, at 5:30 p.m., Reese attained a new Division I record by recording the most double-doubles in a single season. The championship game marked her 34th double-double of the season, with Reese tallying 13 points and 10 rebounds thus far.
Clark has achieved yet another milestone by breaking the record for the most three-pointers made in a women’s national championship game, going 7-for-15 from beyond the arc.
Third qurter: LSU 75, Iowa 64
As the game clock showed 5:21 p.m., Iowa found themselves behind by 11 points heading into the crucial final 10 minutes of the game. With three of their key players, Warnock, Czinano, and Clark, sitting on the bench due to foul trouble, it remained to be seen whether anyone could step up to keep Iowa’s hopes alive in the fourth quarter, or if they would inevitably falter.
Earlier, at 5:18 p.m., Clark was charged with her fourth foul, which also resulted in a technical due to her reaction of casually tossing the ball aside.
At 5:17 p.m., Clark achieved an impressive feat by surpassing the legendary Sheryl Swoopes for the most points scored in a single women’s NCAA Tournament. Swoopes’ record of 177 points was broken by Clark, who now had 25 points in the game. However, the moment was dampened as both Clark and Czinano were charged with their fourth fouls, potentially hampering their contribution to the game.
Meanwhile, at 5:15 p.m., an official review overturned Mulkey’s timeout call, reducing LSU’s timeouts to two with 12 minutes still remaining in the game.
Earlier, at 5:03 p.m., Warnock was charged with her fourth foul, while Clark and Czinano had three each. The situation presented a challenging setback for Iowa. However, Marshall’s three-pointer and Clark’s additional point helped Iowa narrow the gap with a 15-2 run in just three minutes, reducing LSU’s lead to eight points.
At 5:02 p.m., Iowa faced the daunting task of reducing their deficit, which was initially at 20 points at the beginning of the third quarter. To achieve this, Iowa needed to take a step-by-step approach and start breaking down the deficit into smaller, more manageable portions. Otherwise, the gap would be too large to overcome.
Half: LSU 59, Iowa 42
4:35 p.m.: LSU wraps the first half with the most points ever made in 20 minutes during a women’s final four.
At 4:33 p.m., Carson’s outstanding performance was highlighted as she had not missed a shot. She had a perfect 100% field goal percentage, as well as beyond the arc and at the free-throw line, leading the Tigers with 18 points.
At 4:31 p.m., the significant difference in bench points between LSU and Iowa was highlighted as LSU was +24, while Iowa only had two.
At 4:30 p.m., Clark received her third foul call and showed frustration with the physicality of the Tigers. Iowa faced the challenge of navigating without her now that she was on the bench.
At 4:28 p.m., Jasmine Carson continued her impressive performance, maintaining a perfect 100% from beyond the arc and sinking back-to-back threes to extend LSU’s lead to 12 points.
At 4:19 p.m., it was noted that Clark had assisted on 64% of Iowa’s points in this tournament run. Although she picked up her second foul, she remained on the floor. Meanwhile, LSU was on an 8-0 run, resulting in their largest lead of the game.
First quarter: LSU 27, Iowa 22
At 4:06 p.m., Poole and Reese from both teams have been called for their second fouls, and they have to sit out. The game has started off aggressively and it’s not a great sign for either team.
Just a minute earlier, at 4:05 p.m., the first quarter hasn’t even come to an end yet, and Warnock and Czinano from Iowa have already picked up two fouls each and are also sitting on the bench.
At 3:59 p.m., Clark sets a new record for the most three-pointers made in a single tournament, breaking the previous record set by Virginia Tech’s Georgia Amoore. Clark had tied the record in the game after Amoore set it on Friday, and Ruocco describes her performance as almost fictional with a current 4-for-5 record from downtown.
3:51 p.m.: Clark’s celebration game is on another level. She pumped her fist in victory before the ball even hit the net, adding to her reputation as a trash talker.
At 3:45 p.m., Iowa gains an early advantage by forcing a turnover immediately after LSU wins the tipoff. They then score on the next two possessions with consecutive steals from Martin and Czinano.
Pregame
3:36 p.m.: Ashland University and Transylvania University, the winners of Division II and III women’s basketball championships, respectively, are holding the flag during the national anthem.
3:31 p.m.: The starting lineups have just been announced, and both teams are poised to make history and fight for the title in Dallas this afternoon. It’s time for the two remaining titans to take the court and show their skills.
For the Hawkeyes:
- Kate Martin
- Caitlin Clark
- Gabbie Marshall
- McKenna Warnock
- Monika Czinano
For the Tigers:
- Flau’jae Johnson
- Alexis Morris
- Kateri Poole
- LaDazhia Williams
- Angel Reese
At precisely 3:21 p.m., the LSU Tiger was spotted sporting an attire reminiscent of Kim Mulkey’s Sweet 16 outfit. During a TV interview, Mulkey expressed her approval of using clothing as a means to entice people to purchase tickets for games.
At 3:09 p.m., both teams were experiencing an impressive display of support from their respective fanbases. As per TicketSmarter, only 316 tickets remained available, with four listed on their website, ranging from $760 to $1,326.
At 3:06 p.m., it was observed that both LSU and Iowa had three women on their team who maintained an average of ten or more points per game.
| School | Player | PPG |
|---|---|---|
| LSU | Angel Reese | 23.3 |
| Alexis Morris | 15.2 | |
| Flau’jae Johnson | 11.0 | |
| Iowa | Caitlin Clark | 27.7 |
| Monika Czinano | 17.2 | |
| McKenna Warnock | 10.9 |
At 3:01 p.m., a pregame analysis included a comparison of statistics between Iowa and LSU.
| Stat | LSU | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 81.7 | 87.3 |
| FG% | 0.461 | 0.511 |
| 3F% | 0.337 | 0.377 |
| FT% | 0.695 | 0.768 |
| Total rebounds | 46.3 | 38.6 |
| Offensive rebounds | 17.1 | 8.6 |
| Blocks | 5.1 | 2.5 |
| Steals | 9.6 | 7.5 |
| Assists | 14.7 | 20.9 |
| Turnovers | 13.7 | 14.3 |
| Assist-to-turnover ratio | 1.07 | 1.46 |
At 2:30 p.m., the odds for the upcoming game were reported to be closely contested. BetMGM provided their prediction as follows:
| Bet | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Favorite | Iowa | -3.5 |
| Underdogs | LSU | +3.5 |
| Over/Under | 156.5 | |
| Moneyline | LSU | +145 |
| Iowa | -175 |
At 2:24 p.m., a recap of the Final Four games played by Iowa and LSU was presented as follows:
At 2:22 p.m., it was reported that the Hawkeyes had arrived in style at the American Airlines Center via the red carpet.
At 2:17 p.m., it was noted that both teams had held team gatherings to boost each other’s morale. LSU opted for a conventional Sunday devotional, while Iowa formed a circle at center court to reflect on their accomplishments.
At 2:16 p.m., it was mentioned that Iowa had released multiple hype videos in anticipation of the significant event, emphasizing their determination to emerge victorious.
At 2:11 p.m., it was reported that Monika Czinano and McKenna Warnock had completed their final practice session as Hawkeyes. It was unclear whether the seniors intended to participate in the WNBA Draft. According to the Daily Iowan, Czinano had postponed her enrollment in medical school to extend her basketball career for as long as possible, recognizing the limited window of opportunity she had with the sport.
At 2:10 p.m., it was announced that Caitlin Clark had been bestowed with the prestigious Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year award for the second consecutive year.
At 2:09 p.m., it was reported that Nancy Lieberman had paid a visit to the Iowa Hawkeyes’ locker room to offer words of encouragement and high-fives after their mid-Saturday practice.
At 2:07 p.m., an overview of the performance of the usual starting five Lady Tigers during the NCAA Tournament was provided as follows:
At 2:04 p.m., it was reported that the Lady Tigers had arrived at the American Airlines Center in Dallas and received a warm welcome with a red carpet awaiting their entrance.
At 2:03 p.m., it was noted that Kim Mulkey had opted for her signature tiger stripes ensemble for the national championship game, wearing a shimmery pantsuit.
How to watch Iowa vs. LSU women’s basketball championship
- TV channel: ABC
- Live stream: Sling TV, ESPN app
The matchup between Iowa and LSU will be aired nationally on ABC, and can also be live streamed through the ESPN App and Sling TV.
Iowa vs. LSU start time
- Date: Sunday, April 2
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
The national championship game between Iowa and LSU is scheduled to commence at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time from the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Women’s Final Four schedule 2023
National championship
Sunday, April 2
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| (2) Iowa vs. (3) LSU | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
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