cleveland —

Camila Cardozo once again pitches for Dawn Staley and South Carolina.

Perfect finish. A dynasty. This time, this team is too big for Caitlin Clark and Iowa State.

Cardozo had 15 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, and South Carolina capped a perfect season with an 87-75 victory over Clark and the Hawkeyes in the NCAA championship game on Sunday.

With Staley’s relentless offense on the sidelines, the Gamecocks (38-0) became the 10th Division I team to go undefeated all season. They accomplished the feat after losing all five starters from a team that lost to Clark in the national semifinals last season.

“When young people lock in and have faith, trust, and their parents have that same trust, that’s what can happen,” Staley said. “They made history. They etched their names in the history books.”

Clark did his best to lead the Hawkeyes to their first championship. She scored 30 points, including a championship-record 18 points in the first quarter. She rewrote the record books at Iowa State (34-5) and became the career scoring leader in NCAA Division I history with 3,951 points.

She hopes her legacy will be defined less by two NCAA championship game losses and more by the millions of new fans she helped bring into the game and the countless young girls and boys she inspired.

“I think the biggest thing is it’s really hard to win these things, and I think I know better than most people now, it really hurts to be so close twice,” Clark said.

When the final whistle blew, a stoic Clark walked off the pitch, through the confetti and into the tunnel to the dressing room.

“I personally want to thank Caitlin Clark for elevating our sport. She has shouldered a heavy burden for our sport,” Staley said. “She’s also going to elevate this league (WNBA). Caitlin Clark, if you’re out there, you’re one of the best players in our game. We thank you.”

South Carolina has won three championships in the past eight years, including two in the past three years, and is the latest dynasty in women’s basketball. Staley became the fifth coach to win at least three national championships, joining Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey and Tara Vanderveer.

The Gamecocks have won 109 of their past 112 games and become the first undefeated team since UConn in 2016. South Carolina had a few scares throughout the season but always found a way to win.

With the majority of the team returning next year, Staley’s team is well-positioned to continue that momentum.

“This team, we’re going to be great. Coach Staley, we have the best coach in the country, in this country, in the whole world?” Raven Johnson said. “There’s no telling what she’s going to add to what’s already there. I’m just saying stay alert.”

Tessa Johnson led South Carolina with 19 points. Cardozo, the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, also blocked three shots.

“Camila Cardozo is not going to cost us a game in the NCAA tournament,” Staley said. “She played through injuries and she performed like one of the No. 1 picks in the WNBA draft and her teammates did some things for the players in our program that were in the WNBA that their teammates didn’t do. They delivered as a national champion. She left. So that’s history for us.”

Led by the 6-foot-7 Cardoso and Ashlyn Watkins, South Carolina held a 51-29 rebounding advantage. He also ended up with 30 second-chance points.

The Gamecocks also showed off their impressive depth. Tessa Johnson helped lead the team to a 37-0 reserve margin.

South Carolina trailed 46-44 late in the second quarter but went on an 11-0 run at halftime to lead 55-46 early in the third quarter. Clark finally ended the game with a layup.

The Hawkeyes tied the score to 59-55 and had a chance to chase the score further, but Hannah Sturker missed an open layup on a great pass from Clark.

South Carolina responded with the next eight points, including two 3-pointers. The Gamecocks shot 4-for-20 from 3-point range in last season’s Final Four loss to Iowa State, but shot 8-for-19 from 3-point range against the Hawkeyes.

Sydney Affolter’s three-pointer put Iowa State behind 80-75 with 4:12 left in the game. But the Hawkeyes were shut out the rest of the way.

With 20 seconds left in the game, Clark exited, and Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder replaced senior Molly Davis, who had been missing since the end of the regular season. He didn’t play after getting hurt in a game against Ohio State.

Unlike the semifinals, Clark got an early start against South Carolina when she struggled with UConn’s defense. Clark scored 13 straight points for Iowa, including a signature 3-pointer, and the Hawkeyes led by 11 early. With 1:30 left in the game, South Carolina tied the score to 22-20, and Clark scored the final five points, including a three-pointer beyond Cardozo.

Clark’s 18 points in the first quarter set a championship game record, surpassing LSU’s Jasmine Carson’s 16 points against the Hawkeyes last year.

In the last minute, Tessina hit a three-pointer and LaVine Johnson stole the ball from Clark near midfield and made a layup. The Gamecocks fell behind 46-44. South Carolina led 49-46 at halftime.