South Carolina went into the 2024 NCAA Tournament looking to complete the undefeated season it couldn't in 2023.
The Gamecocks did just that Sunday, beating Iowa 87-75 to finish 38-0, win the national championship — and avenge last year's loss to Iowa in the Final Four.
South Carolina's size created issues for Iowa throughout the game, as expected. The Gamecocks won the rebounding battle 51-29 with starting bigs Kamilla Cardoso and Chloe Kitts both logging double-doubles. They combined for 26 points and 27 boards, and the 6-7 Cardoso added three blocks.
The other area in which the Gamecocks had a major advantage? Their depth. Dawn Staley was able to rely on her bench throughout the NCAA Tournament final, and freshman Tessa Johnson had a particularly great game. That production allowed other South Carolina players to get key rest and stay fresh while Iowa's quintet of starters largely remained on the floor.
South Carolina's bench advantage likely resulted in a sense of déjà vu for Iowa fans, as LSU's bench dominated during Iowa's national championship game loss to the Lady Tigers in 2023.
Here's what to know about South Carolina's bench advantage and how it helped decide the March Madness finale in the Gamecocks' favor.
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South Carolina vs. Iowa bench points
South Carolina scored 37 bench points during its 87-75 win over Iowa in the 2024 NCAA Tournament championship game. Johnson had 19, good for the most on the team, while Milaysia Fulwiley, Sania Feagin and Ashlyn Watkins produced the other 18.
Iowa didn't get a single point from its bench. Addie O'Grady and Kylie Feuerbach combined to take just three shots and played sparingly behind the Hawkeyes' starters.
It's worth noting that Iowa's bench took a hit before the postseason, as starting guard Molly Davis suffered a knee injury that knocked her out of the NCAA Tournament. That forced normal sixth-woman Sydney Affolter into the starting lineup, whittling away some of Iowa's depth.
Davis played the final minute of the championship game ceremonially, as Lisa Bluder put her on the floor to close the game for the Hawkeyes. But suffice to say, her absence affected Iowa's bench.
Even so, South Carolina's 37-point outburst from the bench would have been tough for Iowa to overcome even with Davis available. And with a generally stronger, healthier and deeper team in 2023, Iowa still ran into the same disadvantage against LSU.
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How Iowa's loss to South Carolina compares to 2023 LSU loss
Iowa lost the 2023 NCAA championship game to LSU in a 102-85 blowout. In that game, the Tigers' bench outscored the Hawkeyes' bench 30-8 thanks to a stellar performance from Jasmine Carson.
Carson, a senior, came off the bench and dropped a team-high 22 for LSU on 7-of-8 shooting in that contest. Entering the game, Carson had averaged 8.4 points per game as a solid bench option for the Tigers, but she had her best game of the season on the biggest stage.
In 2024, Johnson played the Carson role against Iowa. She entered the game averaging 6.2 points per game but provided more than triple her scoring average and a season-high 19 points to buoy South Carolina's starters. She went 7-of-11 from the field, so her efficiency also was an asset.
LSU outrebounded Iowa, 37-26, when the teams squared off in the 2023 title game. While they didn't dominate the Hawkeyes in the same way the Gamecocks did, the Tigers still held the edge on the boards.
Iowa's 2024 loss will certainly bear a similar sting to the 2023 defeat, especially since Caitlin Clark will leave for the WNBA without a national title.
But given the advantages the Gamecocks held over the Hawkeyes, it wasn't a surprise to see South Carolina earn vengeance for its 2023 loss and take the 2024 crown.