Caitlin Clark and No. 1 seed Iowa women's basketball narrowly beat Paige Bueckers and No. 3 seed UConn in the women's NCAA Tournament Final Four.
The Hawkeyes (34-4) will face South Carolina (37-0) in Sunday's national championship.
Check below to re-live the game's top updates, highlights and analysis:
GAME STORY:Iowa women's basketball survives late UConn rally to advance to championship game
FINAL: Iowa 71, UConn 69
A brilliant, drama-filled game came down to the end.
Clark finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Bueckers had 17 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Q4/0:04 Iowa 70, UConn 69 - Huskies called for offensive foul
Aaliyah Edwards was called for an illegal screen on UConn's pivotal possession.
The replay did not show much movement on the screen. A questionable call.
Q4/0:10 Iowa 70, UConn 69 - Huskies have a chance to win it
Clark drained some clock, but when she was double-teamed, she passed to Hannah Stuelke, who's pass attempt to the corner was tipped and intercepted.
UConn now has 9 seconds to get a shot to win it.
Q4/0:39 Iowa 70, UConn 69 - UConn clutch
Nika Muhl, who's primarily been the Clark stopper tonight, came up with a huge steal and 3-pointer to bring UConn within one point.
It seems that the Huskies are trying to get the ball out of Clark's hands by fouling her before they reach the bonus.
Q4/2:38 Iowa 68, UConn 64 - Trading buckets down the stretch
Kate Martin has ice in her veins. She's hit consecutive turnaround jumpers in the last couple minutes, thwarting great defensive efforts by UConn.
Those buckets have kept Iowa afloat amid UConn's late run.
Ball security, free throws and tough shot making might determine this ending.
Q4/5:42 Iowa 66, UConn 57 - Hawkeyes on fire
A Gabbie Marshall jumper got the pro-Iowa crowd on its feet.
Iowa is in a box-and-1 on Paige Bueckers, forcing other Huskies to score. It's working.
Clark is also walking the ball up the court, trying to use some clock.
Q4/7:27 Iowa 60, UConn 57 - Clark finding her rhythm
Clark is up to 14 points this half after just six in the first. Although she has missed all of her signature logo 3s, she's doing a better job not just hunting for triples and scoring inside the arc.
But UConn is keeping it close thanks to a slew of midrange jump shots. Three Huskies have 12 or more points, while Clark and Hannah Stuelke have combined for 41 points.
It seems that Sydney Affolter, though, is the best third option for the Hawkeyes right now.
End 3: Iowa 51, UConn 51 - Living up to the hype
An ugly offensive first half turned into a 44-point third quarter between both sides.
Clark has 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Paige Bueckers has 14 points.
Hannah Stuelke has been the star with 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting.
This is shaping up to be a photo finish as both teams have made adjustments, traded leads and momentum and are leaving it all on the court.
Q3/2:20 Iowa 47, UConn 47 - Players getting banged up
The Huskies' defensive player of the year, Nika Muhl, limped to the locker room before quickly returning to UConn's sideline. She's been the primary defender on Clark tonight and has done a fantastic job.
Soon after, Kate Martin appeared to be poked in the eye and ran to the locker room. She also returned after a couple of minutes.
Q3/3:07 Iowa 45, UConn 45 - It's anybody's game now
Clark has made two triples this quarter, including a rare 4-point play, after which she was grimacing.
But she stayed in the game and has already scored more in the third quarter (7 points) than she did in the first half (6 points).
Hannah Stuelke continues to be terrific scoring in the paint and is up to 15 points. Her toughness has been on full display.
After Iowa trailed by as many as 12 points, the game is now in the balance with momentum on Iowa's side. The Hawkeyes must take advantage of this juncture and take a lead into the fourth quarter.
Q3/4:59 Iowa 37, UConn 41 - Red-hot start from both sides
Iowa began the half perfectly with a steal and Gabbie Marshall triple, her first bucket of the game.
Lisa Bluder clearly changed Iowa's offensive approach to rely less on Clark. Other players are bringing the ball up the court and initiating offense, which opened up some operating room for Clark to quickly breakthrough with her first 3-pointer of the game.
But UConn, and specifically Paige Bueckers, have displayed a renewed offensive approach as well. She has seven points already this frame, matching her first-half total.
Halftime: Iowa 26, UConn 32 - Hawkeyes battle back
Iowa finished the half on a 10-4 run, largely thanks to Sydney Affolter scoring six points during that stretch.
Her effort and the team's run got Iowa's many fans engaged and lively, but Clark took a poor 3-pointer in the final seconds that lead to a last-second bucket by Paige Bueckers.
Clark is 0-for-6 from deep, the first time she's failed to make a 3 in a half of an NCAA Tournament game.
The good news is that despite 12 turnovers and 3-for-14 shooting from behind the arc, Iowa trails by just six points. The Hawkeyes have a prime opportunity to take control of the game after halftime, but they can't afford to waste too much more time.
UConn's offense isn't playing particularly well either, missing open looks. Perhaps the Huskies are expending most of their energy on defense.
Q2/3:56 Iowa 18, UConn 28 - Hawkeyes need a spark
The Hawkeyes are getting pushed around and their allowing UConn to take them out of their game.
Clark did a good job getting to the rim for an easy layup, and she created a driving lane for Kate Martin on the following possession before she missed a layup. Martin is 1-for-5 shooting, and only Clark, Hannah Stuelke (8 points) and Kylie Feuerbach (3 points) have scored otherwise.
Someone needs to step up and take some of the defensive pressure off of Clark near the top of the key.
Q2/6:41 Iowa 16, UConn 25 - Physicality winning the day
UConn's defense has been nothing short of smothering, especially against Clark. She is frustrated, is struggling to find an open space to operate and is only finding success when passing to teammates in transition.
Iowa's halfcourt defense has been effective, especially against Paige Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards (combined 6 points), but 10 Hawkeyes turnovers have lead to 10 transition points for UConn, the most recent of which forced Lisa Bluder to call a timeout.
Iowa has struggled against physicality in past games, but typically has overcome any resistance with 3-point shooting and drawing fouls. Neither strategy has materialized thus far.
End 1: Iowa 14, UConn 19 - Clark locked up
UConn has done a terrific job defending Clark thus far, holding her to just 1-for-5 shooting. She's been pressured hard when handling the ball and face-guarded when off the ball, and she seems frustrated early by the defensive attention.
Iowa as a whole also struggled to shoot, going 2-for-9 from deep. Seven turnovers didn't help either, yet the Hawkeyes trail by only five points - a great sign considering they played far below their standard. Hannah Stuelke (6 points) showed toughness and fire.
The Huskies shared the ball well and played extremely hard defensively, even without Paige Bueckers (2 points) doing much.
Q1/4:59 Iowa 7, UConn 13 - Huskies come out firing
Clark scored a running layup to start the game, but UConn took over thereafter.
The Huskies have made both of their 3-point attempts, have assisted on all five of their made shots and already turned Iowa over three times.
The Hawkeyes, meanwhile, are just 1-for-5 from deep, with Kate Martin making one from the left corner.
Clark has missed three straight shots, including a logo 3.
Iowa vs. UConn Final Four is underway in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
The game is underway as the two teams battle for a chance to advance to the national championship.
Iowa vs. UConn winner will play South Carolina in the national championship
After a mediocre first half, South Carolina exploded out of the halftime locker room to win the third quarter 29-6 and cruise to a 78-59 win over NC State.
The Gameco*cks are 37-0 and have only lost once, last year to Iowa in the Final Four, in the last two seasons.
Sydney Affolter is Iowa women's basketball's X-factor
Since Molly Davis suffered her knee injury, Sydney Affolter has entered the starting lineup and dazzled.
In seven postseason games, she's averaging 13.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Affolter also bring a competitive fire, size and toughness to the starting unit that helps when playing against bigger teams like LSU.
The Hawkeyes need her to keep up this level of production.
Full story:How Sydney Affolter's lasting toughness helped Iowa women's basketball reach Final Four
Who is Paige Bueckers?
UConn's biggest star is Paige Bueckers, a redshirt junior guard who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the country. This season she's averaging 22 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on 53.4/41.8/83.4 shooting splits.
Like Clark, she's earned national acclaim, awards and recognition throughout her career. Before this season, most of her production came during her historic 2020-21 freshman season, in which she was named the national player of the year, but she was sidelined by injuries for most of the last two seasons.
Now that she's healthy and playing like herself again, Bueckers provides Clark with a worthy adversary on the Final Four stage.
Is Molly Davis playing today?
Iowa guard Molly Davishas been sidelined for the entire postseason after she suffered an injury against Ohio State in the Hawkeyes' final regular-season game.
In a social-media post by KCRG's Chelsie Brown from Thursday's team practice before Iowa's Final Four matchup with UConn, Davis is shown shooting around while wearing a knee brace. But the encouraging images were followed by a conversation between Davis and head coach Lisa Bluder, during which Davis appeared to be emotional and upset.
Based on that footage, it seems like Davis will be sideline yet again.
Full story:Molly Davis injury update: Iowa women's basketball guard emotional after shootaround
What channel is Iowa women vs. UConn on today? How to watch, stream live
- TV channel:ESPN
- Stream:NCAA March Madness Live app |More: Watch Iowa women vs. UConn in the Final Four on SLING TV (subscribe today)
Iowa will tip off vs. UConn on ESPN.Streaming options include Sling TV. Announcers for the game are Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe.
More:What channel is Iowa vs. UConn on today? Time, TV schedule for March Madness game
Iowa women vs UConn start time, TV info, location
- Start time:8:30 p.m. CT Friday, April 5
- TV info:ESPN
- Location:Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
Iowa women vs. UConn game preview
- Leistikow's 5 thoughts ahead of Iowa women's basketball vs UConn matchup in Final Four
- Another Iowa-UConn NCAA Tournament matchup puts Hawkeyes' elite growth on display
- Leistikow: How Iowa women's basketball has changed families and Hawkeye sports history
- Iowa wants more than a Final Four berth. The Hawkeyes' words are convincing
- How Lisa Bluder's coaching prowess has helped push Iowa women's basketball to new heights
Iowa vs UConn odds, betting line, spread
Odds according toBetMGM
- Spread:Iowa -2.5 (-115), UConn +2.5 (-105)
- Over/under:162.5
- Moneyline:Iowa (-150), UConn (+125)
Iowa women vs UConn prediction, game picks
Iowa 88, UConn 83 - This should be another exciting game that comes down to the wire. But with the way Caitlin Clark is playing and the experience this Iowa roster has in the postseason, the Hawkeyes should have slight edge in Friday night's contest. Gabbie Marshall's defense on Paige Bueckers and how big Aaliyah Edwards' advantage over Iowa in the paint is will be key X-factors to watch.
More:Iowa women's basketball vs UConn prediction in the Final Four: Our pick is in
Iowa women vs UConn stats
Iowa
- PPG: 91.9
- PPG allowed:71.5
- FG%: 49.9%
- 3PT%: 37.8%
- NET ranking:5
UConn
- PPG:79.9
- PPG allowed:56.8
- FG%: 49.7%
- 3PT%: 36.4%
- NET ranking:2
Iowa women vs UConn championship odds
Odds according toBetMGM:
- Iowa (+650)
- UConn (+1100)
Iowa women's basketball schedule 2023-24
The past five games of Iowa women's 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, clickhere
- April 1 vs. LSU (W, 94-87)
- March 30 vs. Colorado (W, 89-68)
- March 25 vs. West Virginia (W, 64-54)
- March 23 vs. Holy Cross (W, 91-65)
- March 10 vs. Nebraska (W, 94-89 OT)
UConn women's basketball schedule 2023-24
The past five games of UConn women's 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, clickhere
- April 1 vs. USC (W, 80-73)
- March 30 vs. Duke (W, 53-45)
- March 25 vs. Syracuse (W, 72-64)
- March 23 vs. Jackson State (W, 86-64)
- March 11 vs. Georgetown (W, 78-42)
Updated 2024 women's basketball NCAA Tournament bracket
The full, up-to-date women's NCAA Tournament bracket can be viewed here.
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Gus Martin is a Digital Producer/Content Director for The Des Moines Register. Follow him on X at@GusMartin_DMR.
