The number of people watching TV was very high during the Elite Eight of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. rose to very high levels during the Elite Eight of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, but the highly anticipated Final Four face-off between No. 1 seed Iowa and No. 3 seed UConn on Friday could break those records once again. No. 3 seed UConn could break those records once again.
Paige Bueckers versus Caitlin Clark. The 2021 Naismith Player of the Year versus the two-time reigning winner. One motivated to continue a legendary dynasty and one who wants to create her own near home. Both have been to a national championship game and come up short, and to return this season the superstars will have to get through each other.
But both teams are well aware that their Final Four matchup on Friday night will require more than just their point guards to win. Clark hasn’t scored less than 25 points since the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, and UConn coach Geno Auriemma said he isn’t optimistic that the Huskies will be able to contain her differently.
“We don’t plan on stopping her, because I tried calling all the other coaches that have stopped her, and none of them answer the phone,” he joked. “So we’re going to have to find a different way to win than stopping Caitlin Clark … Whoever wins this Final Four will know that they won a pretty special one, because it may be a long time before we see this group of players on this stage all at one time.”
The real key for the Huskies is everyone except for Clark. Iowa’s supporting cast is led by center Hannah Stuelke, who stepped up to replace Monica Czinano as Clark’s partner at the post. The sophomore is the Hawkeyes’ second top scorer, averaging 13.8 points per game with a 63% completion rate from the field and 6.8 rebounds. Senior Kate Martin has emerged as a credible second scoring threat behind Clark, shooting over 50% from the field and matching the superstar at 38% from 3-point range. She averages 13.1 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.
As crucial as Bueckers is to the Huskies with an average of 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists during March Madness, UConn’s success has depended on the rise of a third scorer to support her and All-American forward Aaliyah Edwards. Against Syracuse in the second round, it was Ashlynn Shade with 19 points, and 12 from KK Arnold helped the Huskies beat Duke in a low-scoring Sweet 16 battle.
“Each of their players know exactly what they have to do. They have some really amazing role players,” Muhl said. “When people say role players you think of somebody on the side that does their little job, but role players are extremely important. I’m one of them, so I know how important they are … At the end of the day, we’re trying to focus more on the other pieces and not necessarily (Clark). But with all said, I feel like our game is what we need to focus on the most, not them. That’s what’s been helping us win the most in this tournament.”
Although Bueckers is the satisfying matchup, it will probably be Muhl who will have the main responsibility of containing Clark. The Huskies' point guard has had difficulty with fouls in the tournament, but she managed to stay on the court for more than 13 minutes with four fouls in the win over the Trojans after fouling out against the Orange. Her presence on the court will be more crucial than ever on Friday as UConn’s top man defender: She helped limit Syracuse star Dyashia Fair to just two points in the first half of that game and contributed to one of the worst shooting performances of the season by USC phenom JuJu Watkins.
“(Muhl) is a fantastic point guard and she plays very hard on defense, so I believe she'll be guarding Caitlin,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “She uses her size. She’s a very intelligent basketball player. It does relieve Paige from some of those responsibilities, in my opinion … She doesn’t really have to force things or create things. She is just taking advantage of what’s available for her.”
How to watch UConn women’s basketball vs Iowa in the Final Four
Site: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse; Cleveland
Time: around 9:30 p.m. (30 minutes after the first Final Four game between South Carolina and NC State ends)
Series: UConn is ahead, 6-3
Last encounter: UConn, 86-79 in Portland, Oregon on Nov. 27, 2022
Records: (3) UConn: 33-5, 18-0 Big East; (1) Iowa: 33-4, 13-3 Big Ten
TV: ESPN
Radio: UConn Sports Network on FOX Sports 97.9
