During a June 3 appearance on the Higher Learning podcast with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay, South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley opened up about the emotional aftermath of her team’s loss to Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Reflecting on that Final Four defeat, Staley said, “The year before we won [in 2024], we lost to Iowa in the semifinals, and that one really hit me hard.” When asked if it was the most painful loss of her coaching career, she responded, “Yes. Yes. Not because of me, but for my players. That team was special. They did everything right. Amazing people and fierce competitors—I wanted them to win so badly. When they didn’t, it devastated them. And that devastated me.”
Staley acknowledged the quality of the team that beat them, led by standout point guard Caitlin Clark, who entered the WNBA in 2024 and has quickly become one of the league’s top stars. In a June 5 interview with Sports Illustrated, Staley praised Clark’s immense potential.
“Caitlin is on track to become one of the greatest to ever play in the league and she might get there faster than anyone else,” Staley said. “Her shooting ability, her passing, her vision she sees the floor better than anyone. She’s a big guard and a true triple threat.”
She added, “Now that she’s surrounded by top-tier talent, I think we’re going to see triple-doubles become a regular thing for Caitlin.”
Despite the sting of that 2023 loss, it’s clear Staley holds deep respect for Clark’s game and what she’s accomplishing at the professional level.
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