South Carolina Women’s Basketball Seeks Redemption in NCAA Championship Game

Game Time Set for South Carolina Women’s Basketball vs Iowa: NCAA Championship Game

Cleveland – With the Final Four ending, South Carolina Women’s Basketball’s tipoff time and opponent is set for the National Championship game on Sunday. The No. 1 seeded Gamecocks (37-0) will get a rematch against No. 1 seeded Iowa. The game will tip off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday on ABC at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

The Hawkeyes (34-4) held off No. 3 UConn in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, 71-69, to advance to their second consecutive National Championship game. Sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke led the way with 23 points, while star guard Caitlin Clark added 21.

South Carolina used a massive third quarter to take down No. 3 seed NC State 78-59. Senior center Kamilla Cardoso starred, scoring 22 points in only 23 minutes.

South Carolina’s Road to the Championship

With its win on Friday, the Gamecocks reached the National Championship game for the second time in three years, following their 2022 national title. South Carolina is the No. 1 overall seed for March Madness for the third year in a row and advanced to the Final Four for the fourth consecutive season.

The win over NC State on Friday continues South Carolina’s revenge tour. After being heavily favored to win the title last season before being stunned by Iowa in the National Semifinals — their first loss of the 2022-23 season — the Gamecocks are again undefeated and on the prowl for a title.

It is South Carolina’s third National Championship game under Coach Dawn Staley; the Gamecocks have won the previous two, defeating Mississippi State in 2017 and Connecticut in 2022.

Kamilla Cardoso: Formidable and Immovable Force for South Carolina, Even When Injured

The most impressive part of Kamilla Cardoso’s game isn’t the fact that she played through pain Friday night, injuring her knee late in the second half before returning to play the third quarter. It’s that she’s improved throughout the season. Even if she’s not at full strength, she’s a load on the block.

Most people take noticeable jumps in skill, strength, or athleticism in the offseason when they can devote hours to their craft. It’s hard to work on your individual game during the season when you’re juggling class, scouting reports, and daily practice that’s usually focused on the team.

But just a couple of months ago, Cardoso had a bad habit of getting buried on the block. She was often rushed when she caught the ball and took terrible angles on shots, frequently shooting underneath the rim. Against NC State, she looked like a first-team All-American.

She was patient and polished, taking her time to feel the defense before going the other way and scoring — often through a few sets of outstretched arms. For her size, she has impressive body control. And given her mobility, she could be making a case to move up to No. 2 in this month’s WNBA draft.

Cardoso’s Injury and the Team’s Mindset

Kamilla Cardoso on her knee injury and status:

“I just fell, and then it started hurting a little bit. But I’m OK now. I’ve seen the doctor, he said it was fine. He’s gotta do some treatment, ice it and stuff like that, and I’ll be ready for Sunday.”

Cardoso on how dominant South Carolina was:

“I think when all of us zone in, nobody can stop us because we can get the post-ups, we can shoot the 3, we can drive. So when all of us are playing in the same rhythm, nobody can stop us.”

Cardoso on what the shot at a title means to the team:

“Everything. I think we’ve been working really hard, and this was the goal. Even though we didn’t set a goal for this season, this was the goal to make it to the championship, and I’m just so proud of this team and so proud of everything that we accomplished was working so well up.”