Iowa, LSU vie for very first NCAA women's basketball titles

DALLAS-- Caitlin Clark has actually captured the attention of basketball fans with her historic performance in the NCAA Competition.

When they face LSU on Sunday in the title game, Iowa's astonishing guard will try to end up off the extraordinary run she's led the Hawkeyes on with a championship.

" I think winning a championship game is how you put a last bow on it," Clark said. "I believe that's the best way, but we're going to offer it everything we have for 40 more minutes. We know that's all we have left of our season."

The spectacular guard, who matured in Iowa, ended up being the very first ladies's gamer to post back-to-back 40-point performances in the NCAA Tournament after her 41-point game raised the Hawkeyes over previously unbeaten South Carolina in the Final Four.

Now she'll attempt to etch her name beside some of the best ever to win a title-- like Cheryl Miller, Sheryl Swoopes, Chamique Holdsclaw, Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson.

Another SEC team stands in the method: LSU and coach Kim Mulkey, who was impressed viewing Clark on Friday night.

" That's my very first time to see her play in person, and I didn't get to enjoy the game because I had to deal with (the media)," Mulkey said. "When I did get out there, I could not take my eyes off of her.

While her team does not have any title experience, Mulkey has been in this position three times before when she was coaching Baylor. Each time she came away with the title.

To keep that best record undamaged, LSU will need to find a method to slow down Clark.

" Iowa is a great group and I'm going to offer credit where it's due. They have the best gamer, the gamer of the year, Caitlin Clark," LSU guard Alexis Morris said. "She's incredible. I appreciate her game."

It took Mulkey five years to get Baylor to the national championship. She did it in two with the flagship school in her house state after beating Virginia Tech in the semifinals.

The Tigers made the Final Four in 5 straight seasons from 2004-08 led by females's basketball greats Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles. LSU could never ever get to the title game previously. The men's group also had actually never made it prior to either.

" It is so exciting-- I do not even know how old LSU is," Mulkey stated. "I don't even understand when they began playing men's or ladies's basketball, but it needs to be a long period of time ago. And to believe all those fantastic gamers that have played in the NBA and the WNBA, and they never bet a championship game. That's mind-blowing to me."

BIG TEN HISTORY

Iowa is looking to become only the second Big Ten group to ever win the national championship, signing up with Purdue, which did it in 1999 under Carolyn Peck. The last women's group from the conference to play in the title video game was Michigan State-- and lost to Mulkey and Baylor in 2005.

BIG TEN CONNECTION

Angel Reese and Kateri Poole are no strangers to Clark, having actually played against her when they were in the Big Ten. Reese moved from Maryland, Poole from Ohio State.

" Luckily, me and Kateri have played them prior to in the Big Ten, so I understand what Caitlin gives the table for sure," Reese said. "Just making sure that third and fourth gamer, making sure they don't go off and get their 20 points, that's going to be the distinction."

PONYTAIL PETE

Clark has been compared to LSU excellent Pete Maravich ever since she remained in high school. It's a not improbable contrast, according to Iowa's guard.

" I am familiar with his game. I've seen a lot of his highlights," Clark said. "Obviously a significant compliment. I saw somebody called me like Ponytail Pete or something like that. I thought that was kind of amusing. I think just a tremendous compliment. Like you stated, I take a lot of pride in having the ability to do a great deal of various things for my group, whether it's scoring, but also I believe the passing can get neglected sometimes."

NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

Who: Iowa (31-6) vs. LSU (33-2).

When: 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas.

TELEVISION: ABC.