Caitlin Clark, Iowa beat UConn in March Madness thriller to earn title game berth

CLEVELAND — Caitlin Clark has given us what we didn’t know was possible.

She has thrown passes no one could anticipate.

She has hit shots from other area codes.

She has scored more points than any player in history.

She has made Iowa City the coolest city in sports.

She has given her sport a moment that was never scheduled.

She has left so many memories, produced so much joy, made so many fall in love with a sport that’s always lived in the shadows.

Caitlin Clark compiled 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in Iowa’s win. USA TODAY Sports Paige Bueckers and UConn fell short of the national championship with their loss in the Final Four. Getty Images The Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate after beating the UConn Huskies 71-69 during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Getty Images

She will have one more day.

She will have one chance to achieve all she’s wanted most.

Recovering from an early 12-point deficit, No. 1 Iowa pulled out a 71-69 win over No. 3 UConn in Friday night’s national semifinals at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to return to the national title game for the second straight year.

The Hawkeyes (34-4), who made their first-ever championship game appearance in last year’s loss to LSU, will meet No. 1 South Carolina (37-0) in a rematch of last year’s Final Four battle, in which Clark scored 41 points and handed the Gamecocks their only loss of the season.