The NCAA Women’s Championship went down on Sunday (April 7), and South Carolina won the game in a dramatic fashion. South Carolina beat Iowa, 87-75, in what was a close and exciting game. Iowa, of course, features women’s basketball superstar Caitlin Clark. So, all eyes were on this game, as millions of Americans watched Clark to see if she could push her team to a victory over South Carolina. But, in the end, she couldn’t, and South Carolina prevailed.
NCAA Women’s Championship: Dawn Staley, LeBron James & More
“We serve an unbelievable God — we serve an unbelievable God,” Staley told ESPN after the NCAA Women’s Championship game. “Uncommon favor, unbelievable. So proud, I’m so proud.”
Staley also thanked her players and staff. Then, she got back to God.
“God is funny like that, He is funny,” Staley said. “He rips your heart and He makes you believe. He makes you believe the unimaginable. Thank you, Jesus, thank you.”
She also talked about God during the NCAA Women’s Championship post-game celebration, saying, “I just want you to know that the God I serve … when he closes a door, he opens a door that is giving you unimaginable success.”
This isn’t the first time Staley has publicly professed her faith after games. She got some blowback following South Carolina’s Elite Eight win, when she said “something’s wrong with you” if you don’t believe in God.
But, she’s not stepping down.
Before the Final Four game, she said, according to Deseret News, “I’m not going to apologize for what I said or what I feel because I know my life and I know why things have happened in my life and I’m going to salute God as much as I can because I know it’s not just my doing.”
I personally see no issue with Staley professing her faith. It’s a very real moment for her. She’s not forcing her players to believe. She’s just expressing her thoughts and feelings on what helped her pull off a historic win. That’s my personal take.
Meanwhile, NBA star LeBron James is defending Caitlin Clark against people who are hating on her for losing in the championship game.
Not long before Iowa fell to South Carolina in the NCAA championship game, James wrote on X, “If you don’t rock with Caitlin Clark game you’re just a FLAT OUT HATER!!!!! Stay far away from them people!! PLEASE.”
James didn’t state whether he was directing this comment to fans or peers, but Clark has received some negative words from NBA stars over the past few months. So has fellow women’s college basketball star Angel Reese.
Reese, who plays for the LSU Tigers, helped her team take home a NCAA Women’s Championship over Clark and Iowa in 2023. They went up against each other again this year in the NCAA Elite Eight Championship game, and this time, the Hawkeyes won.
After the game, Reese said, “I’ve been through so much. I’ve seen so much. I’ve been attacked so many times, death threats. I’ve been sexualized. I’ve been threatened. I’ve been so many things and I’ve stood strong every single time.”