CLEVELAND — Caitlin Clark walked into her final postgame Iowa news conference, found her seat in the middle of the dais and sat down. Kate Martin followed closely behind, and coach Lisa Bluder joined both of them about 20 seconds later.
There was disappointment, sure. For the second consecutive season, Iowa lost the NCAA championship, this time to unbeaten South Carolina 87-75. But the secondary emotion this year — unlike last year’s frustration against LSU — was one of resignation. These Hawkeyes played as hard and as well as possible; it just wasn’t good enough.
The Gamecocks were superior in nearly every facet, and only a perfect performance would have vaulted Iowa to victory.
Good coaches ask their teams to play to the best of their abilities, and when they do, they can be satisfied with the results. That was the case here. Yes, there were a few possessions that could have turned out differently, but that works both ways. So when Bluder, Clark and Martin started answering questions, they were more reflective than emotional. That was how they got through their final media session this season. But to properly convey the Iowa women’s basketball team’s place in collegiate athletics, reflection and emotion are synonymous.
GO DEEPER
Caitlin Clark’s last day as a college…
