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What has already been a riveting women’s college basketball season is set for an electric finale on Sunday, April 6, when 37-0 South Carolina goes for a perfect season against Iowa, who boasts the sport’s all-time leading scorer in Caitlin Clark. Tip off in Cleveland, Ohio, is set for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, and we’re taking a look at the March Madness women’s national championship odds for South Carolina vs. Iowa.

2024 March Madness Women’s National Championship Odds for South Carolina vs. Iowa: Key stats favor Gamecocks

As a result of its dominant season, South Carolina is a strong 6.5-point favorite over Iowa for Sunday’s NCAA Tournament championship game. The total of 160 points suggests it will be a high-scoring game, too.

That’s in the wheelhouse of both teams as Iowa leads the nation with 91.4 points per game, and South Carolina is third with 85.4 points per game.

The Gamecocks, on the other hand, are relatively dominant when it comes to defense. They allow 56.1 points per game, which ranks 17th in the nation. South Carolina has been even better during the NCAA Tournament, allowing an average of 54.4 points per game.

Iowa is outside the top 200 with an average of 71.5 points per game allowed and has allowed 68.6 points per game during March Madness. It’s clear that Iowa will have to find another gear on defense to compete with South Carolina.

Women’s National Championship Odds: Major intangible for South Carolina

It shouldn’t be necessary for a coach to find extra motivation for their team when a championship is on the line, but South Carolina’s Dawn Staley is in a unique position.

She has exactly that.

Last season, South Carolina was undefeated when it met Iowa in the Final Four, The Hawkeyes won that game, 77-73, and ever since then, South Carolina has been haunted by the memory of being unable to complete the perfect season.

Not only do they have that memory, but now when the chance to finally get over the hump is here again, it’s the same team — Iowa and Clark — standing in the way.

The Gamecocks have won plenty of games, including in the postseason, by double digits, but now they have a double dose of motivation on Sunday so there is no chance they’ll be caught going through the motions.

Women’s National Championship Odds: The Caitlin Clark Factor

Sometimes no matter how great one team is, one player on the other team can change the course of history. Nobody will be surprised if South Carolina wins the championship on Sunday, but it might be even less surprising if Clark has the game of her life and delivers a national title for Iowa.

The Gamecocks had a great defense last season, too, but Clark scored 41 points in the national semifinals to lead the Hawkeyes to victory. It is entirely possible — and in some circles, likely even expected — that Clark can do it again on the sport’s biggest stage.

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Clark is the game’s all-time leading scorer, and she has raised the bar for girls around the world with her otherworldly shooting skills and breathtaking passing talent. Clark will probably become one of the best players in the WNBA early in her professional career, and she will continue to carry the torch as women’s basketball steps further into the spotlight.

As transcendent a player as she is, however, there will always be something missing from her college career if she doesn’t win an NCAA championship. The greatest players have all won them, but Clark has not.

It’s fair to say that Clark is one of the greatest players of all-time, but on Sunday she’ll have a chance to solidify herself as one of the greatest champions of all-time, too.