LSU beats Iowa to win its first NCAA women’s basketball championship

LSU players celebrate after winning the national championship game on Sunday, April 2.

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LSU’s Angel Reese gestures toward her ring finger in the final moments of the game.

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LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson hugs head coach Kim Mulkey at the end of the game.

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LSU came into the tournament as a No. 3 seed, but it knocked off a 1-seed (Virginia Tech) and a 2-seed (Iowa) in the Final Four.

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LSU’s Alexis Morris drives to the basket during the second half. She had 19 of her 21 points in the second half.

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Morris, center, is congratulated by teammates after drawing a foul in the fourth quarter.

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An Iowa fan holds a “believe” sign during the second half.

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Iowa star Caitlin Clark runs back on defense after making a 3-pointer in the second half.

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Players jostle for position in the second half.

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Iowa’s Molly Davis is defended by Reese in the second half.

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LSU players celebrate after Jasmine Carson hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first half. The Tigers led Iowa 59-42.

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Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder walks the sideline during the first half.

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Reese is defended by Iowa’s McKenna Warnock in the first quarter.

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Reese and Monika Czinano battle for a rebound.

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Carson reacts after hitting a 3-pointer in the second quarter. Carson came off the bench to score 21 first-half points, and she was 5-for-5 from behind the 3-point arc.

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Clark yells from the sideline during the first half. She was in foul trouble for much of the game.

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Johnson is fouled by Clark in the first quarter.

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Mulkey reacts to a call during the first half.

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Clark hits one of her four 3-pointers in the first quarter. She finished the first half with 16 points.

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LSU’s LaDazhia Williams is defended in the first half.

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Reese and Czinano compete for the opening jump ball.

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The National Anthem is played before the game in Dallas.

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First lady Jill Biden, in the green jacket, takes in the game with tennis legend Billie Jean King, right.

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LSU players high-five fans on their way to the game.

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Iowa fans get ready for the game at the American Airlines Center.

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In pictures: LSU wins national title in women's basketball

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CNN
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The LSU Tigers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 102-85 Sunday to win the program’s first NCAA women’s basketball national championship in Dallas, Texas.

LSU shot a blistering 58% from the field in the first half, including 75% from three-point range.

The Tigers’ 59 first half points set a new record for most points scored in a half in a women’s championship game and gave LSU a 17-point lead headed to the locker room.

DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Lady Tigers reacts towards Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game at American Airlines Center on April 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

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Angel Reese defends gesture directed towards Caitlin Clark after LSU national title win; calls out double standard after being 'unapologetically' her

The Tigers’ first-half barrage was sparked by Jasmine Carson, who came off the bench to score 21 points for LSU in the opening half, including a perfect five of five on three-pointers. Carson finished with 22 points to lead the Tigers.

After the game, Carson described the game as “surreal.”

“Every player dreams of being on a big stage like this and having the game of your life, and for it to come to fruition – it meant a lot,” she said.

LSU’s 102 points also set a new record for most points scored by a team in a women’s championship game.

Iowa star Caitlin Clark led all scorers with 30 points in the game, setting a new record for most points scored in a women’s tournament in the process with 191. The 2023 national player of the year broke the previous women’s record of 177 points set by Sheryl Swoopes in 1993 playing for Texas Tech. Swoopes set the record playing in fives games compared to Clark’s six game total.

Caitlin Clark has had a record-breaking March Madness run.

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Caitlin Clark breaks records galore during historic March Madness run

Hall of Fame coach Kim Mulkey was emotional during the game’s final seconds as she secured LSU’s first women’s basketball championship in just her second year at the helm for the Tigers.

“Coaches coach a lifetime and this is the fourth time I’ve been blessed,” an emotional Mulkey, having won her fourth NCAA women’s basketball national championship after claiming three during her time at Baylor, told ESPN.

“Never in the history of LSU basketball, men or women, have they ever played for a championship and to win it, I think my tears are tears of joy. I’m so happy for everyone back in Louisiana.”

The Tigers became just the third No. 3 seeded team to win the title and the first since 1997.

A crowd of 19,482 was in attendance to watch LSU’s victory; according to the NCAA, over 350,000 have turned out to watch the women’s March Madness which is a record for the competition.