Iowa vs. UConn: Final Four results and NCAA women's tournament updates

The madness is nearing its end. After two weeks of basketball, there will only be two left at the end of the evening.

The Final Four began Friday when No. 1 South Carolina easily defeated No. 3 NC State in the first national semifinal. Dawn Staley's Gamecocks are still undefeated at 37-0 and just one win away from a perfect season.

Next up is the top matchup of the night, pitting Caitlin Clark and No. 1 Iowa against Paige Bueckers and No. 3 UConn. The two superstars and their coaches insisted that the showdown is not about Clark versus Bueckers, but there will still be plenty of looks at the duo.

It should be an exciting evening full of action. Watch live as the teams battle for a spot in the championship game on Sunday.

Schedule for Friday's Final Four

Schedule for women (all times Eastern):

No. 1 South Carolina 78, No. 3 NC State 59

9:30 p.m. – No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 3 UConn (ESPN)

live49 updates

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 9:37 pm CDT

  Iowa gives Caitlin Clark a double screen and she rewards her with her first 3-pointer of the game. Kate Martin tied the game on the next pitch, but Paige Bueckers answered with her first 3-pointer. The game is starting to look like we expected.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 9:35 p.m. CDT

  Iowa opened the half with a steal and a 3-pointer from Gabby Marshall to put Iowa ahead, but KK Arnold responded quickly to make it 34-29

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 9:18 pm CDT

  Iowa was bad on the floor and then went on a 10-2 run to get back within range before Paige Bueckers closed the half with a layup. At halftime the score is 32-26 UConn. KK Arnold led all scorers with 10 points, while Caitlin Clark had six points on 3 of 11 (0 of 6 from deep). Things could go better for Iowa, but they could also get a lot worse.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 9:11 pm CDT

  Iowa shot 8 of 23 (2 of 11 from deep) with 11 turnovers (including 10 steals by UConn). Just a nightmare from top to bottom at the moment.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 9:10 pm CDT

  UConn led 28-18 despite Paige Bueckers having just five points on 2-of-6 shooting. This was billed as a battle of the stars, but the rest of UConn's starters make the difference here (if only someone had written about it before the game).

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 9:01 pm CDT

  Iowa had some really, really bad turnovers. They are now behind 25-16 and in the danger zone

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:53 pm CDT

  Nika Muhl will be the key to this game. She sticks with Clark everywhere, preventing her from getting the ball upfield and holding her to 1 of 5 and scoreless on three 3 attempts. She drew a foul. And with two 3s, Muhl has already exceeded her 6.8 ppg average.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:52 pm CDT

  After one quarter the score is 19-14 UConn. KK Arnold, Nika Muhl and Hannah Stuelke are tied in the lead with six points. That's probably the start UConn wanted, although Iowa is probably relieved to only trail by five after the start Clark had.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:48 pm CDT

  I think we can officially call this a rough start for Caitlin Clark, who is 1 of 5 from the field (0 of 3 from deep) and just turned the ball upside down. UConn is 16-11.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:39 pm CDT

  Clark grimaces as he commits this foul. She missed both of her first three attempts and UConn quickly took a 13-5 lead behind two baskets from freshman KK Arnold. UConn center Aaliyah Edwards already has three assists and Nika Muhl, who is on the board with a 3 early, is great for the Huskies.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:38 pm CDT

  UConn got off to a fast start as KK Arnold scored against Caitlin Clark to give them a 13-5 lead. Clark is 1 of 3 for 2 points.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:33 pm CDT

  And here we go. UConn opened with a turnover, then Caitlin Clark struck first, giving Iowa a 2-0 lead.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:33 pm CDT

  Paige Bueckers, an All-American and former national player of the year, enters Friday averaging 22 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game.

  Caitlin Clark, All-American and current National Player of the Year, averages 32 points, nine assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Who will come out on top when a trip to the title game is on the line?

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:28 pm CDT

  It's time for UConn-Iowa and some stars are here on the sidelines. Two-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young sit alongside members of the South Carolina team.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:17 pm CDT

  There are 15 minutes until the semifinal between UConn and Iowa and the showdown between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:12 pm CDT

  UConn star Diana Taurasi doesn't think Caitlin Clark would be shooting logo threes if she played for Geno Auriemma.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 8:01 pm CDT

  NC State couldn't keep up with South Carolina in any aspect.

  • Kamilla Cardoso got the upper hand early and was then able to sit out the entire fourth quarter, which could be very beneficial given the possible leg/ankle injury in the first half. She scored 22 points on an efficient 10-12.

  • Ashlyn Watkins herself was almost faster than the entire NC State for most of the game. She finished with 20. The Wolfpack lost the battle 46-32 and the paint points 44-20.

  • Which would have been fine, except NC State otherwise couldn't shoot from deep and barely made any baskets. The team shot 32.2% overall, their second-worst performance of the season. And it ended 6 of 23 at 3 seconds.

  But the Wolfpack went on a great run and made it to the Final Four after starting the season completely unnoticed. They weren't a real Cinderella by any means, but it was still fun.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 7:57 pm CDT

  What a win for the Gamecocks. South Carolina advances to the national championship game with a 78-59 win over NC State.

  All-America center Kamilla Cardoso led South Carolina to a dominant performance. She finished the game with 22 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks while sitting out the entire fourth quarter of the blowout win. Ashlyn Watkins grabbed 20 rebounds off the bench as South Carolina controlled the boards for a 46-32 lead. The Gamecocks shot 8 of 19 (42.1%) from 3 in a balanced inside-out offense.

  The Gamecocks are now 37-0 and just one win away from a perfect championship season.

  Next up, Iowa and UConn battle for the right to face South Carolina in the title game.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 7:53 pm CDT

  Raven Johnson simply walked back from the locker to the bench without a limp. It's doubtful we'll see them again, with South Carolina leading 74-54 heading into the final two minutes. Their status will be a story to keep an eye on as Sunday's championship game approaches.

• Fri, April 5, 2024 at 7:49 pm CDT

  South Carolina's Raven Johnson just left the court and headed to the locker room. She appeared to walk without difficulty but held onto her right thigh as she left the court. The Gamecocks are in full control midway through the fourth quarter, but Sunday's upcoming championship game has them worried.