Current:Home > ContactHannah Stuelke, not Caitlin Clark, carries Iowa to championship game with South Carolina -VisionFunds
Hannah Stuelke, not Caitlin Clark, carries Iowa to championship game with South Carolina
Fastexy Exchange View
Date:2025-04-09 09:27:09
CLEVELAND — Caitlin Clark tried to tell you. All year, she told you exactly what to watch for with Iowa.
No, not her.
Hannah Stuelke.
Clark suggested earlier this year that the soft-spoken sophomore might break all her records one day and, after a night like this, it’s easy to believe it. Clark and Iowa are in the national championship game for a second consecutive year, and it’s Stuelke who got them there.
"I think Hannah's tremendous. I think it's just the confidence and belief," Clark said after Iowa held on for the 71-69 win. "She played with an energy about herself of she really could go in there and dominate. She goes toe to toe with Aaliyah Edwards, who in my mind is one of the best players in the country.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.
"I'm just super happy for Hannah. She's worked so hard to be in this moment."
Stuelke scored a team-high 23 on 9-of-12 shooting, and carried Iowa until Clark and the rest of the Hawkeyes found their groove in the second half. She didn't just come up big on the offensive end, either. After Clark missed a free throw, Stuelke got her fingers on the ball and tipped it Sydney Affolter, giving Iowa possession with three seconds left.
Now Iowa plays undefeated and overall No. 1 seed South Carolina on Sunday.
MORE:Last chance to see the NCAA's unicorn? Caitlin Clark's stats put her in league of her own
MORE:Controversial foul call mars end of UConn vs. Iowa Final Four game
ANALYSIS:Kamilla Cardoso formidable and immovable force for South Carolina, even when injured
And everyone at the NCAA and ESPN is rejoicing.
This wasn’t the most impressive game Clark and Iowa have played, and the Hawkeyes barely resembled the juggernaut that beat LSU on Monday night. Clark had 21 points, but it was on 7 of 18 shooting and she was 3 of 11 from 3-point range.
In fact, for much of the night, it looked as if Paige Bueckers and UConn were going to end Clark’s final season the way they ended her first: With a loss in the NCAA Tournament.
Which would have been quite something, given the Huskies are pretty much being held together by duct tape and glue. A rash of injuries left them with eight available players and one of them played less than three minutes through the first four tournament games.
For those who need help with the math, that’s a two-person bench. Against the greatest shooter the college game has ever seen. The Huskies were in foul trouble, too, with KK Arnold and Ice Brady playing much of the fourth with four fouls and Nika Muhl having three.
But the Huskies gave Iowa everything and then some, harassing Clark into bad shots and not letting her do her typical Caitlin Clark things. She didn’t even make a 3-pointer until there was 8:10 left in the third quarter.
Clark and the Hawkeyes have been saying all season, though, that Iowa is more than Clark and she has gone out of her way to praise Stuelke’s game.
"The confidence is everything. Especially hearing Caitlin Clark talk about me like that, it gives me a confidence boost," Stuelke said, smiling. "I think anyone would say that."
Stuelke barely played against LSU, in foul trouble early trying to guard Angel Reese. But she held her ground against Edwards and Clark and Iowa quickly realized that getting the ball inside to Stuelke was their best offense. Time and again she took a pass from Clark down low and muscled the ball in for a layup.
UConn knew what was coming, and the Huskies couldn't do much to stop it.
"We just kept telling her how good she was. Honestly, the only thing that stopped her from being great was her own self. It was her own doubt. She is a beautiful athlete, an explosive athlete, and she just held herself back," Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said.
"I'm just so pleased with her growth tonight," Bluder added. "She just took, as a sophomore — a young sophomore — she took another big leap tonight."
Caitlin Clark is still Iowa’s best player, it’s first, second and third option. But the Hawkeyes aren’t a one-woman team, and Stuelke picked the perfect time to prove it.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour
veryGood! (162)
Related
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- What NIT games are on today? Ohio State, Seton Hall looking to advance to semifinals
- Burn Bright With $5 Candle Deals from the Amazon Big Sale: Yankee Candle, Nest Candle, Homesick, and More
- 18-year-old charged with vehicular homicide in crash that killed a woman and 3 children in a van
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Women's March Madness games today: Schedule, how to watch Saturday's NCAA Tournament
- Geomagnetic storm from a solar flare could disrupt radio communications and create a striking aurora
- Shop QVC's Free Ship Weekend & Save Big on Keurig, Dyson, Tile Bluetooth Trackers & More
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Elmo advises people to hum away their frustrations and anger in new video on mental health
Ranking
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Mining Companies Say They Have a Better Way to Get Underground Lithium, but Skepticism Remains
- King Charles, relatives and leaders express support for Princess Kate after cancer diagnosis
- Step up Your Style & Get 63% Off Accessories From Amazon: Adidas, Steve Madden, Vera Bradley & More
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- NASCAR COTA race 2024: Start time, TV, streaming, lineup for EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix
- Georgia running back Trevor Etienne arrested on DUI and reckless driving charges
- South Dakota man sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter in 2013 death of girlfriend
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
Trump's Truth Social is losing money and has scant sales. Yet it could trade at a $5 billion value.
Rep. Mike Gallagher says he’s resigning early, leaving House Republicans with thinnest of majorities
Adam Sandler has the script for 'Happy Gilmore' sequel, actor Christopher McDonald says
Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
18-year-old charged with vehicular homicide in crash that killed a woman and 3 children in a van
Stellantis recalls nearly 285,000 Dodge, Chrysler cars over potentially deadly airbag defect
Barn collapse kills 1 man, injures another in southern Illinois