Caitlin Clark and Iowa meet LSU in rematch of NCAA title game
Published Date: 4/1/2024
Source: axios.com

Get your popcorn ready. The Iowa vs. LSU Elite Eight game is a matchup of arguably the two biggest names in women's college basketball and a rematch of the 2023 championship.

The latest: Tip-off is at 6pm Monday on ESPN. Iowa is favored by 1.5 points.


How we got here: The Hawkeyes easily dispatched the Colorado Buffaloes Saturday 89-68 setting up a heavyweight battle with the LSU Lady Tigers.

  • LSU won earlier in the day 78-69 after a late game rally against UCLA.

Between the lines: All eyes will be on Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese. Toward the end of last year's championship game, with LSU taking a commanding lead, Reese directed a gesture known as "you can't see me" toward Clark.

  • Reese then began pointing to her ring finger symbolizing the championship the Tigers were about to win. The interaction became the talk of the college basketball and sports world.

The intrigue: This is the second installation in an unexpected rivalry and the last time the two will face off at the college level. Clark, 22, is the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, while Reese, 21, could return to LSU for another season.

  • Even though they aren't playing for a championship this time around, a loss would mark the end of an illustrious career for Clark.

By the numbers: The two stars each lead their teams in scoring and rebounding. With Clark averaging nearly 32 points per game and Reese averaging almost 19 and 13 rebounds.

What we're watching: How chippy this matchup could get with a trip to the Final Four on the line. The winner of this game will take on either USC or UConn, two schools who boast stars in their on right — JuJu Watkins of the Trojans and Paige Bueckers of the Huskies.