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Wout van Aert wins Tour of Britain title as Carlos Rodríguez takes final stage

• Van Aert’s second-place finish enough to secure second title
• ‘I had a really hard time. I didn’t think it was possible’

Second place on the climbing stage into Caerphilly secured Wout van Aert his second overall title in the Tour of Britain. Compared with his 2021 victory , however, this was far from straightforward although his fine form had been clear from day one.

Through the hills of south Wales, Ineos’s Spanish starlet Carlos Rodríguez, the eventual stage winner, formed an impromptu alliance with local rider Steve Williams to push Van Aert to the edge, in the first of the eight stages where the Belgian’s Jumbo-Visma team were unable to exert any real grip on proceedings.

After Williams – who was guesting for Great Britain here – and Rodríguez had sprung clear on the climb of Bryn Du, high above Aberdare in the heart of the Rhondda, Van Aert’s teammates had been scattered to the four winds on the high moorland and the two strongest climbers in the race were rapidly forging a healthy advantage ahead of a small chase group, Van Aert faced the prospect of losing the race lead he had taken in winning Thursday’s stage into Felixstowe . “I had a really hard time, I didn’t think it was possible to take the general classification.”

The 28-year-old’s only option was to remain calm and hope that enough of his teammates could battle their way up to him, and that they and other squads would take the strain before the race arrived at the final brace of climbs over Caerphilly Mountain in the last eight miles. “I tried to stay calm, as I knew there were two climbers in front, and they would spend a lot of energy getting to the finish circuit.”

In the hiatus while he waited for Steven Kruijswijk and Nathan Van Hooydonck to catch up, Williams and Rodríguez raced into a lead that briefly exceeded 90 seconds.

With several other teams assisting Jumbo-Visma, the duo’s lead evaporated like the puddles from the rain showers that had greeted the race when it entered the hills, and on reaching Caerphilly they were only a handful of seconds ahead.

The first climb of the mountain broke Williams, a 27-year-old from Aberystwyth who has quietly forged a good career racing for the Bahrain-Merida and Israel-Premier Tech team, and who this year had won the Arctic Race of Norway. Rodríguez forged ahead on his own, but although he has had an outstanding year with a stage win and fifth overall in the Tour de France, he was less of a threat to Van Aert, having lost time in a crash in the Cotswolds on Saturday’s stage into Gloucester.

The Spaniard needed to finish 40sec ahead of Van Aert and his 20sec advantage with one 7km lap of the finish circuit put the race in the balance. With no teammates left at his side, the Belgian had to control the Spaniard’s lead while simultaneously ensuring that he did not crack, and that he did not lose ground to three threats for the overall title: Rodríguez’s Ineos teammate Magnus Sheffield, the Norwegian Tobias Johannessen and the Australian Damien Howson, all of whom were a slender 3sec behind him overall.

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While Rodríguez did give the Ineos team a consolatory stage win after the withdrawal of their marquee rider Tom Pidcock on Saturday, he was only 11sec ahead of Van Aert on the line, giving the Belgian his third road race win of 2023. He has had a frustrating mid-season, and it was about time he got the rub of the green.

This was a fine crescendo to a slow-burning week marked by six mass finishes in the first six stages, with 52 riders level on time 3sec behind Van Aert after Friday’s stage into Harlow , but it was far from plain sailing, with this most important climbing stage in effect split into two by a lengthy pause from racing with between 87km and 77km to go, when the race briefly stopped twice and then took a diversion to avoid a stretch of road which had been closed by an accident involving a motorcyclist. The incident was unrelated to the race, but it meant that the entire convoy had to be guided through back streets with racing neutralised and the bunch travelling at controlled speed.

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Cycling: Tour of Britain Highlights

Matt Barbet presents highlights from the second stage of the 2023 Tour of Britain in Wrexham, with commentary coming from Ned Boulting and David Millar.

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2. Stage Two Highlights: Wrexham to Wrexham - Matt Barbet presents highlights from the second stage of the 2023 Tour of Britain in Wrexham, with commentary coming from Ned Boulting and David Millar.

8. Stage Eight: Margam Country Park to Caerphilly

7. stage seven: tewkesbury to gloucester, 6. stage six highlights: southend-on-sea to harlow, 5. stage five highlights: felixstowe to felixstowe, 4. stage four highlights: sherwood forest to newark-on-trent, 3. stage three highlights: the howdens stage - goole to beverley, 2. stage two highlights: wrexham to wrexham, 1. stage one highlights: altrincham to manchester.

Tour of Britain 2022

Latest news from the race.

Tour of Britain cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Michal Kwiatkowski: It’s been the worst season ever

Jordi Meeus fastest in reduced sprint to win stage 5 at Tour of Britain

Tour of britain 2022 overview.

When is Tour of Britain: 10 stages from September 4 to September 11

How long is Tour of Britain : 1,352.1km

Where does the race start: Aberdeen

Where does it finish: The Needles

The latest results from Tour of Britain

The organisers of the  Tour of Britain , SweetSpot, announced the cancellation of the final three stages of the race following the death of Queen Elizabeth ll on Thursday, September 8. 

SweetSpot issued a first statement upon the conclusion of stage 5 in Mansfield, announcing that it had cancelled stage 6 from Tewkesbury to Gloucester, and later announced the cancellation of stage 7 from West Bay to Ferndown and stage 8 from Ryde to The Needles.

Gonzalo Serrano ( Movistar ), who was leading the overall classification at the conclusion of stage 5, was announced as the overall winner of the 2022 Tour of Britain. Tom Pidcock and Omar Fraile , both Ineos Grenadiers , finished second and third overall, respectively.

• Stage 5: Jordi Meeus fastest in reduced sprint to win stage 5 at Tour of Britain
• Stage 4: Gonzalo Serrano pips Pidcock to win Tour of Britain stage 4
• Stage 3: Bonneu claims Tour of Britain stage 3 from breakaway
• Stage 2: Cees Bol takes photo finish win in Tour of Britain stage 2
• Stage 1: Corbin Strong wins Tour of Britain opener at Glenshee Ski Centre summit

Tour of Britain 2022 Information

The Tour of Britain kicks off on September 4 offering the peloton a 1,352.1km of racing across eight stages that concludes on September 11 at The Needles.

Rich in history, it is a prominent stage race that has its origins back in 1945. However, the current version of the Tour of Britain, not organised by SweetSpot, began in 2004. 

The multi-day event was registered at the 2.1-level but moved up to the 2.HC status in 2014, and then 2.Pro ranks in 2020, though cancelled that year due to COVID-19. While the event has never made the jump up to WorldTour, it remains as one of the most prestigious events of Great Britain.

Champions of the modern Tour of Britain include last year's winner Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel (2019), Julian Alaphilippe (2018), Lars Boom (2011 and 2017), Steven Cummings (2016) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (2009 and 2015), Bradley Wiggins (2013), and Dylan van Baarle (2014). 

Tour of Britain Stages

• Stage 1 - Aberdeen to Glenshee Ski Centre, 181.3km
• Stage 2 - Hawick to Duns, 175.2km
• Stage 3 - Durham to Sunderland, 163.6km
• Stage 4 - Redcar to Duncombe Park, Helmsley, 149.5km
• Stage 5 - West Bridgford to Mansfield, 186.8km
• Stage 6 - Tewkesbury to Gloucester, 170.9km
• Stage 7 - West Bay to Ferndown, 175.9km
• Stage 8 - Ryde to The Needles, 148.9km

Tour of Britain Contenders

Positioned annually in September, the Tour of Britain offers many riders an opportunity to contest late-season stage racing and potentially to prepare for the UCI Road World Championships, which are held in Australia from September 17-25.

Defending champion, Wout van Aert and his team Jumbo-Visma are not scheduled to compete in this year's event, however, the eight-day race will feature 18 teams, including five WorldTour teams Ineos Grenadiers , Movistar , Team DSM , Israel-Premier Tech , and Bora-Hansgrohe .

The organisers of the event are yet to confirm the official start list, but they have revealed several key riders that will be participating. 

In his final season before retirement, Australia's Richie Porte will lead Ineos Grenadiers at this year's Tour of Britain. Belgium's Dylan Teuns will lead the GC hopes for his team Israel-Premier Tech. British Cycling will also field a national team led by Connor Swift .

Tour of Britain most successful riders

• Edvald Boasson Hagen (2009 and 2015) won more than one edition of the modern Tour of Britain, and Lars Boom won twice (2011 and 2017).
• Wout van Aert won the most recent edition in 2021
• Julian Alaphilippe and Mathieu van der Poel won the race in 2018 and 2019.
• Mark Cavendish (10) has won the most stages of the race, followed by Boasson Hagen (8) and André Greipel (7).

Tour of Britain Teams

• Ineos Grenadiers
• Israel - Premier Tech
• Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling
• Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB
• Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
• Human Powered Health
• BORA - hansgrohe
• Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè
• Movistar Team
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team
• Saint Piran
• Global 6 Cycling
• Team Qhubeka
• Great Britain
• Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise
• Trinity Racing

Tour of Britain 2022 Preview - A hilly profile for home favourite Pidcock

• Tour of Britain past winners
• Tour of Britain 2022 route

• Stage 6 | Tewkesbury - Gloucester 2022-09-09 169km
• Stage 7 | West Bay - Ferndown 2022-09-10 180km
• Stage 8 | Ryde - The Needles 2022-09-11 150km

Latest Content on the Race

By Kirsten Frattini last updated 8 September 22

News 'We would like to send our deepest condolences to the whole of the Royal Family' says organiser SweetSpot

By Andy McGrath published 8 September 22

News The Polish former World Champion looks forward to a better 2023

UCI relegation system 'encourages weird racing' says Michael Woods

By Andy McGrath published 7 September 22

News The Canadian rider is helping Israel–Premier Tech fend off relegation

Tom Pidcock: It was everyone against Ineos Grenadiers at Tour of Britain

News The young British rider was outsprinted by Movistar's Gonzalo Serrano

Richie Porte: It's the end of an era

News 'I'm ready for retirement but at the same time, I know it's going to be a big shock and change.'

Meet Corbin Strong, the surprise of the Tour of Britain

News New Zealander neo-pro led race after debut win on opening stage

Ben Perry takes Tour of Britain lead as commissaires change stage 3 result

By Andy McGrath published 6 September 22

News Strong ousted by reversal of jury ruling on gap to chasing peloton

How to watch the 2022 Tour of Britain – live TV and streaming

By Daniel Ostanek last updated 6 September 22

News Pidcock, Teuns, Porte, Woods, Jorgenson among the major names headlining 18th edition

Preview Day one summit finish could prove to be GC decider, with mix of sprints and hills throughout the week

'There’s a lot more out there than the WorldTour' - Alex Dowsett reveals retirement plans

By Andy McGrath last updated 6 September 22

News Gravel racing, a return to the domestic time trial scene and aero clothing development amongst the British rider's plans

Top News on the Race

Jake Stewart: Tour of Britain sprint was five metres too far

When it rains it pours - A wrong turn for Tour of Britain convoy and field

Tom Pidcock opts out of Worlds in Australia due to racing and training fatigue

2022 Tour of Britain to start and end with hilltop finishes

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Ned Boulting's Tour of Britain 2022 favourites

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How to watch the Tour of Britain 2023 - TV and live stream as Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert do battle

Published 04/09/2023 at 10:02 GMT

The 2023 Tour of Britain has arrived with Great Britain's Tom Pidcock aiming to do battle with overall favourite Wout van Aert for glory on the eight-stage race. The final stages of last year's event were cancelled after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The Tour gets underway in Greater Manchester and finishes in Caerphilly, South Wales where riders will take on the legendary Caerphilly mountain.

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Where to Watch Tour of Britain 2024 – TV, Online, and Mobile

One of the top cycling events in the United Kingdom has to be the Tour of Britain. It may be United Kingdom’s version of Tour de France, but there is more to it. Since it is a revamp in 2004, the Tour of Britain has enjoyed growing popularity amongst the masses. It is not surprising that broadcasters are facing intense competition to secure rights for Tour of Britain TV coverage.

ITV will be the broadcasters for the Tour of Britain 2024. The route for this race was unveiled back in February. Many praised the organisers for switching to a more comfortable route, which is likely to guarantee excitement throughout the race. Twenty teams – including several UCI World Teams – will be taking part in the race, which begins on September 4 in Glasgow. Tour of Britain live broadcast will cover the race through various avenues. ITV4 will be broadcasting the Tour of Britain live three hours per day while a highlights program lasting one hour is also on the cards.

Aside from being available on ITV4, subscribers will also be able to catch the action through the ITV player even after 30 days. Free content is available on YouTube in the form of small clips highlighting the action. Residents in the United Kingdom will be able to catch the action live on Sky channel 464, Freesat channel 251, and Virgin Media channel 552. These options are applicable only for the UK residents. Those in the mainland Europe will be able to catch Tour of Britain action through a variety of channels and online streams.

How To Watch Tour of Britain 2024 Live Stream For Free? Follow Guide Bellow! ⬇⬇⬇

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How to watch 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Saturday: TV coverage, streaming, tee times

England's Lottie Woad has a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2024 ANWA.

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The final round of the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur begins Saturday morning at Augusta National in Georgia. Here’s what you need to know to watch the final round on TV or online, including complete Augusta National Women’s Amateur TV coverage.

Previewing Round 3

Heading into the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, only 35 players remain in the hunt after the 36-hole cut. England’s Lottie Woad holds a two-shot lead over Americans Gianna Clemente and Maisie Filler.

Woad, a 20-year-old sophomore from Florida State University, is making her second appearance at the ANWA. She’s five under par overall after posting rounds of 68-71.

She’s one of the youngest players at Augusta. She also might win

Just behind Woad is Clemente (-3), a 16-year-old from Florida who is also making her second ANWA appearance. Clemente is the reigning Girls Junior PGA champion. Tied with Clemente at three under is Filler, a 22-year-old University of Florida senior. Last year, Filler missed the cut. This year, she’ll play the final round in the penultimate pairing.

You can watch the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on TV on NBC beginning at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday. In addition, Peacock will provide a live simulcast of NBC’s coverage.

Below you will find everything you need to watch the final round of the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

How to watch Augusta National Women’s Amateur on TV Saturday

NBC will air final-round TV coverage of the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur from 12-3 p.m. ET on Saturday.

How to stream Augusta National Women’s Amateur online Saturday

You can stream the final round of the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Saturday via Peacock . Peacock will provide a simulcast of NBC’s TV coverage starting at 12 p.m. ET.

2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur Saturday tee times (ET)

7:30 a.m. – Lauren Kim 7:40 a.m. – Maria Jose Marin, Catherine Park 7:50 a.m. – Asterisk Talley, Farah O’Keefe 8:00 a.m. – Mamika Shinchi, Carla Bernat Escuder 8:10 a.m. – Rachel Kuehn, Hailee Cooper 8:20 a.m. – Amari Avery, Laney Frye 8:30 a.m. – Rin Yoshida, Emilia Migliaccio 8:40 a.m. – Andrea Revuelta, Kaysa Arwefjall 8:50 a.m. – Paula Martin Sampedro, Francesca Fiorellini 9:00 a.m. – Hinano Muguruma, Nora Sundberg 9:10 a.m. – Sayaka Teraoka, Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio 9:20 a.m. – Casey Weidenfeld, Megha Ganne 9:30 a.m. – Eila Galitsky, Bailey Shoemaker 9:40 a.m. – Hannah Darling, Jasmine Koo 9:50 a.m. – Louise Rydqvist, Hailey Borja 10:00 a.m. – Mirabel Ting, Ingrid Lindblad 10:10 a.m. – Maisie Filler, Amanda Sambach 10:20 a.m. – Lottie Woad, Gianna Clemente

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As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

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Exclusive: Men’s Tour of Britain cut to 6 stages for 2024, as women’s race set for future equal billing

T he men’s Tour of Britain will be cut to six stages in 2024 in order to lay the foundations for full parity with its women’s equivalent in the years ahead, Cycling Weekly has learned.

It follows on from the national governing body announcing it will organise both races in house under its new major events arm . 

In a statement shared with Cycling Weekly on Wednesday, British Cycling CEO Jon Dutton confirmed the details of the plan and explained that talks were scheduled with the UCI in order to gain permission to scale back the ProTour event. 

"We’ve taken the decision to run the 2024 edition of the Tour of Britain Men over six days rather than the current eight, and we intend to seek permission from the UCI to extend the Tour of Britain Women to six days from 2025," he said. 

"This would bring full parity to the events after our decision to align the event names this year – something which is fundamental to our vision for major cycling events in Britain."

Cycling Weekly understands that full parity includes the overall length of the race as well as future prize money at this stage. 

British Cycling has contacted various men’s teams to gather opinion on the potential reduction of race days. Dutton explained that there was support for the decision for a variety of reasons. 

"From discussions with a number of men’s teams over recent weeks there is strong support for the decision, and a feeling that the reduction in the number of stages will provide more compelling and animated racing for riders at the roadside to enjoy," he explained. 

Cycling Weekly revealed last month that the shortened Tour of Britain Women is set to start in Wales in June . 

Dutton said that full route details regarding the women's race would be made public within the next fortnight. 

He said: "Our host towns and cities for the Tour of Britain Women will be announced within the next two weeks, and we are also now very close to finalising our hosts for the Tour of Britain Men. 

"Our team has worked around the clock to safeguard the future of the races in an incredibly short timeframe, and we’re also hugely thankful for the commitment of those who have stepped forward to support us this year and those that have pledged their support for 2025 and beyond.

"While 2024 was always going to be about protecting the immediate future of the races, we remain hugely excited by the opportunities to modernise and grow the events in the years ahead." 

British Cycling took over the organisation of both events after the collapse of the former promoter, SweetSpot . After being beset by financial difficulty, the firm entered liquidation in January . 

South Carolina-Iowa highlights: Gamecocks top Caitlin Clark for national title

CLEVELAND – It was a revenge tour, indeed.  

South Carolina avenged its only loss of last season, beating Iowa 87-75  Sunday afternoon for the Gamecocks’ third national championship under Dawn Staley and topping a perfect 2023-24 season.

This one is extra sweet for Staley & Co. because a year ago, the Hawkeyes stunned top-seeded South Carolina in the semifinals, dealing the previously undefeated Gamecocks their only loss of the season.  

USC players had been asked all weekend if they wanted another shot at Iowa, and they didn’t shy away from saying yes. 

South Carolina’s win also ends the brilliant college career of Caitlin Clark on a low note. The all-time leading scorer in the history of Division I basketball took her team to two Final Fours, a tremendous feat, but came up short in the national championship game each time.

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA basketball bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.

That’s a heartache Staley knows well: As a player at Virginia from 1988-92, Staley led her team to three Final Fours, never winning a championship. 

Dawn Staley earns six-figure bonus after winning title

With South Carolina’s NCAA championship and undefeated season, coach Dawn Staley earned another six-figure bonus. The national title gives Staley a $250,000 bonus. Staley will end this season with $680,000 in bonuses in addition to her $3.1 million in basic pay from the school. – Steve Berkowitz

How Dawn Staley forged championship legacy after heartbreak

CLEVELAND —  Dawn Staley  still goes over critical mistakes from 1991. 

It was March 31, 33 years ago. Staley was the point guard for the Virginia Cavaliers and the best player in America. 

The Cavaliers were up five with 1:25 to play in regulation in the national championship game against the Tennessee Lady Vols and legendary coach Pat Summitt. 

Then, suddenly, they were only up two with 48 seconds to play. Then-UVA coach Debbie Ryan called a timeout and drew up a play for Staley to get to the rim. (You could not advance the ball in the final minute back then.) Read the rest of the story here.

South Carolina and other undefeated women's teams who won title

The Gamecocks spun a season of perfection, capped Sunday with a third national championship after  defeating the Hawkeyes .

South Carolina , which entered the women's NCAA Tournament as the overall No. 1 seed, marched through March Madness with what looked like relative ease. Dawn Staley's players had not lost since the Hawkeyes beat them in last year’s Final Four, and the Gamecocks were winning by nearly 30 points a game.

Kamilla Cardoso  anchored the offense and defense and will be among the top five picks in the WNBA Draft on April 15. Read the rest of the story here.

Opinion: Caitlin Clark forever changed college game

CLEVELAND — There are athletes so transcendent, their impact so transformative, their sports are forever defined by the before and after.

There is baseball before and after Babe Ruth. Golf before and after Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, and then again before and after Tiger Woods. Basketball before and after Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

And there will be basketball before and after Caitlin Clark,  whose college career ended   Sunday with an 87-75 loss to South Carolina  in the national championship game. She has changed both her game and how women’s sports overall are viewed,  very much for the better , and neither will ever be the same. Read the rest of the column here.

What's next for Caitlin Clark?

CLEVELAND — What’s next for CC? 

Caitlin Clark’s brilliant, record-breaking collegiate career has come to an end. The Iowa star, a  two-time national player of the year , and the Hawkeyes  fell in the national championship game  for the second consecutive year as South Carolina capped a perfect season. 

Clark, a logo-shooting supernova who captured the hearts and  eyes of millions  over the past couple of seasons while  re-writing the scoring record books , will go down as one of the  most transcendent stars in all of sports , at all of 22 years old. In a state with a  deep history of hoops known for producing stellar women's basketball players , Clark stands above the rest. Read the rest of the story here.

Final: South Carolina 87, Iowa 75

For the third time in eight seasons, and twice in the last three, the South Carolina Gamecocks are NCAA champions.

South Carolina withstood late charges from Iowa and pulled away in the NCAA Women’s Tournament final, 87-75, to claim its third championship in program history.

South Carolina relied on its height, presence inside the paint and depth.

The Gamecocks secured an edge in rebounds (51-29), offensive rebounds (18-7), second-chance points (30-16), points in the paint (48-32) and bench points (37-0).

Iowa closed the margin with an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter while Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso was getting a spell on the bench, but the Gamecocks steadied and converted their clutch shots.

Cardoso posted a double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds, and Gamecocks freshman Tessa Johnson led all South Carolina players with 19 points.

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, playing her last game for the Hawkeyes, finished with 30 points on 10-of-28 shooting.

Gamecocks in control

South Carolina is a quarter away from winning it all for the second time in three seasons.

The Gamecocks extended their lead in the third quarter, outscoring Iowa by six, and go into the final frame up 68-59.

South Carolina, going back to late in the second quarter, opened the second half on an 11-0 run. Iowa’s defense delivered some stops midway through the period and the Hawkeyes were able to cut the deficit to two, but South Carolina closed the quarter on an 11-4 run.

Gamecocks freshman Tessa Johnson hit a pair of 3-pointers late in the quarter and now leads all South Carolina players, despite coming off the bench.

After sprinting out of the gates in a torrid start, Iowa’s shots have stopped dropping — in large part because of South Carolina’s pressure defense. The Hawkeyes are now just 20-of-50 (40%) from the floor.

Star Iowa guard Caitlin Clark dropped 18 points in the first quarter, but has gone just 3-of-13 (23.1%) from the floor since then. She leads all scorers with 25.

Iowa needs to step up on defense

CLEVELAND — If there’s been a knock against Iowa all season, it’s been the Hawkeyes’ defense.

Iowa is incredible offensively, especially when the Hawks are out in transition; no one loves to floor and distribute like Caitlin Clark.

But trailing 65-55, Iowa could really use a defensive stop. That’s hard against a team that has great size and athleticism. But Iowa needs to figure out a way to slow down South Carolina, which fired off an 8-0 run faster than you could blink. Meanwhile, Iowa went scoreless for more than three minutes.

In a game like this, momentum matters, big-time.

And that’s why Iowa coach Lisa Bluder just burned her second timeout, to try to stop the bleeding, as South Carolina has taken a 68-57 lead after a three from Tessa Johnson. There's only 1:06 left in the third, but Bluder knows it matters. 

Tamika Catchings, Jalen Hurts among celebs at game

The stars have descended on Cleveland for the national championship game between Iowa and South Carolina. Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings and WNBA MVP Candace Parker are at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to watch the new generation of talent.

Parker was sitting with USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is there, as is “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis and singer and Gamecocks alum Darius Rucker.

Caitlin Clark getting help from teammates

CLEVELAND – Bree Hall looks frustrated.

The 6-foot junior guard has done a terrific job guarding Caitlin Clark this afternoon. She’s had a hand in her face — literally — every time Clark has crossed half-court, and Clark has worked hard for each of her 23 points.

But Hall can’t do everything.

After a missed three from South Carolina, Clark corralled the ball and raced up the court — with Hall right with her. Hall managed to get in front of Clark, who retreated to the corner … but then Hannah Stuelke flew toward the basket for a layup. After she scored, bringing the Hawkeyes within four, Hall turned away from the basket and let out a heavy sigh, visibly annoyed.

That’s a testament, again, to how well Clark’s teammates have played this tournament and how dependable they’ve become. You might be able to slow Clark, but she’s far from your only problem.

South Carolina in control to start third quarter

The Gamecocks stayed hot to start the third quarter, going on an 11-0 run that went back to the end of the second quarter. Iowa finally scored on a Clark jumper at around the 7-minute mark.

South Carolina fights back, leads Iowa at halftime

CLEVELAND — Well, that was exhilarating.

Caitlin Clark is sucking wind, Raven Johnson is breathing hard and we’ve got one hell of a game on our hands. Are you ready for two more quarters?

It’s clear that everyone on the floor is exhausted — that’s partially how Johnson just managed to sneak a steal from Clark. This game might come down to who’s more in shape, including if it turns into a free-throw shooting contest. At the end of the game when you’ve lost your legs, you have to be even more conscious of bending your knees and getting the ball to the rim.

Pay close attention the second half if shots are short. Both teams shot reasonably well in the first half — 47% for South Carolina and 45% for Iowa — but the Gamecocks have 12 more attempts, a direct result of their 12 offensive rebounds, which they’ve turned into 19 second-chance points.

Gamecocks course-correct in second quarter, lead 49-46

If the first quarter was all Caitlin Clark and Iowa, the second was a course-correction for South Carolina.

The Gamecocks opened the period on a 7-0 run to erase Iowa’s early lead and take a three-point lead — its largest of the game — into halftime.

This has been a game of contrasting styles. Iowa is looking to grab defensive rebounds and sprint out in transition. South Carolina, meanwhile, is crowding the paint and using its height to secure offensive rebounds and extend possessions; the Gamecocks have a 12-4 advantage on offensive boards and have scored 19 second-chance points, compared to Iowa’s 11.

South Carolina also holds a 27-18 overall edge on the glass and has scored 30 points in the paint.

Clark scored just three points in the second quarter after dropping 18 in the first and leads all scorers with 21.

Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso leads her team with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, but South Carolina’s bench has been a big factor, chipping in nearly half of the team’s points, with 22. Iowa’s bench, by comparison, hasn’t scored a single point.

South Carolina is up, 49-46.

Dawn Staley is fired up

After Kamilla Cardoso grabbed an offensive board and flipped it right back into the basket, Dawn Staley turned to her bench and held out her arms as if to say, “Why aren’t we doing that EVERY time?” The Hawkeyes have no answer for Cardoso, and Staley knows it.

Staley is visibly upset — extremely upset. She’s been on the officials since the jump, furious that Iowa star Caitlin Clark has already been able to draw numerous fouls against South Carolina. (Clark is 5-of-6 from the line.)

Staley’s assistants have rushed on the floor a few times to pull her back, encouraging her to back off the officials so she doesn’t get hit with a technical. She’s sat down a couple of times then popped right back up, and spent the first chunk of the most recent media timeout giving official Brenda Pantoja an earful.

She hasn’t been warned officially yet, but it’s something to keep an eye on. Midway through the second quarter, Iowa has shot nine free throws and South Carolina just three.

Caitlin Clark takes down another record

The records continue to fall for Caitlin Clark.

Already the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, Clark needed 18 points in today's game to pass Tennessee great Chamique Holdsclaw for the most total points in a single women's NCAA Tournament.

It took her one quarter to break the record.

Clark went 5-for-8 from the field and her 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in the quarter put her over the top.

"When she feels it, she feels it, " Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said between periods.

Holdsclaw won three straight NCAA championships with the Vols in 1996, '97 and '98 and, like Clark, was a two-time national player of the year.

Caitlin Clark already has 18 points

Caitlin Clark poured in a blistering 18 points on five-of-eight shooting in the first quarter, including three-of-four from beyond the arc.

Iowa off to blazing start but Gamecocks fight back

South Carolina may have entered as the undefeated favorite, but it was Iowa who started the game on a torrid pace.

The Gamecocks would settle, but star Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark poured in a blistering 18 points on five-of-eight shooting, including three-of-four from beyond the arc.

The Hawkeyes scored the game’s first 10 points and ripped off a 20-9 run within the first five minutes of the game to build an early lead. Iowa looked to push the pace in transition to prevent the Gamecocks from settling into their base defense.

Iowa hit six of its first eight shots and — behind Clark drawing a couple of fouls on attempted 3 pointers — the Hawkeyes also drew an early edge on free throws.

Iowa enters the second quarter up 27-20.

Mike Trout shows up at ballpark wearing Caitlin Clark jersey

Count Angels superstar Mike Trout among Caitlin Clark's legion of fans.

In a photo posted on Instagram Sunday, Trout was shown wearing a black No. 22 Clark jersey over what appeared to be a black hoodie as he walked through the tunnel at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

Trout may catch the start of the women's championship game before taking the field to face the Red Sox.

Kamilla Cardoso looks OK warming up, despite injured knee

Kamilla Cardoso is wearing a sleeve on her right leg – it's white today, unlike Friday's black one – to cover the brace she's got on her injured knee. Cardoso hurt it in the second quarter against NC State, but was able to return for the second half and said after the game that she was fine, just needed more treatment. She looks OK, playfully kicking the ball as if it's a soccer ball during warm-ups. (Like pretty much everyone from Brazil, Cardoso is a big soccer fan.)

What time is Iowa vs. South Carolina?  

Iowa vs. South Carolina tips off at 3 p.m. ET today. 

Iowa vs. South Carolina predictions  

USA TODAY’s Nancy Armour has Caitlin Clark and Iowa getting the victory over undefeated South Carolina while Lindsay Schnell has the Gamecocks remaining undefeated to grab their third national championship. 

How to watch Iowa vs. South Carolina  

ESPN is airing and streaming Iowa vs. South Carolina . 

How to stream Iowa vs. South Carolina  

All games will be broadcast on ESPN. Here are additional streaming options to watch all the action on your devices. 

• Stream through  HULU with Live TV  
• NCAA March Madness Live app  
• Stream through  DirecTV Stream  
• Watch all tournament games with a subscription to fuboTV  

When does Caitlin Clark play again?  

Caitlin Clark and top-seeded Iowa takes to the court today in Cleveland against No. 1 South Carolina. They tip off about 3 p.m. ET. 

How many points has Caitlin Clark scored?  

As Iowa’s Caitlin Clark continues to rewrite the record books, USA TODAY Sports is tracking all her stats during the NCAA Tournament. Here’s everything you need to know about the superstar guard. Here is an in-depth, illustrated look at the Iowa star and her race to the all-time NCAA Division I scoring record. 

Kamilla Cardoso injury update  

South Carolina star Kamilla Cardoso left the Final Four game against NC State on Friday night after a fall that tweaked her right knee . She and coach Dawn Staley said after the game she was fine and would play against Iowa in the national championship. 

Dawn Staley thinks Caitlin Clark needs a ring to be the GOAT  

As she’s rewritten the record books over the course of her brilliant four-year career,  Caitlin Clark  has sparked numerous debates about if she is, in fact, the greatest of all time (GOAT) when it comes to college women’s basketball.  

No offense to Clark, who earlier this season became the all-time leading scorer in Division I history regardless of gender, but South Carolina coach Dawn Staley thinks that title belongs to former UConn standout Brenna Stewart.  

“I was really good in college, never won a championship,” said Staley , who led Virginia to three Final Fours, losing the only national championship she played for, in 1991. “You've got to win a championship. That's (my opinion) personally. Like I had a great career. But it's always, did you win a championship?” Read Lindsay Schnell’s full story . 

Caitlin Clark, Iowa shouldn't be able to beat South Carolina. But they will.  

Look at Iowa and South Carolina on paper, and it’s obvious the Gamecocks should win the national championship Sunday. 

Kamilla Cardoso is a force of nature , and Iowa has no one who can counter her. Shot-blocker Ashlyn Watkins has quietly been having a spectacular tournament . No one will sag off Raven Johnson this year . Dominant as South Carolina’s starting five are, the “second string” is equally lethal. 

And yet … there are teams that seem destined to win, and Iowa feels like one of them. 

It would be the fitting end to Caitlin Clark’s stupendous career , of course. She is already major college basketball’s all-time leading scorer and has altered the trajectory not only of women’s basketball but women’s sports. Sunday is the last game for her and Iowa’s super seniors, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall. 

Read Nancy Armour’s full column . 

Why South Carolina will beat Iowa and win third women's national championship  

By now you know all about when Caitlin Clark waved off Raven Johnson last year during the national semifinal, implying to Johnson – as well as everyone watching – that she didn’t view Johnson as enough of a shooting threat to guard her.  

Johnson was so haunted by that moment , she considered quitting basketball. But she’s lived in the gym since then, becoming a sharpshooter and go-to option in the clutch. She dubbed this season “the revenge tour,” and the last stop is Sunday. You really think she’s letting the Gamecocks lose again? Absolutely not. I’ll take South Carolina as my 2024 national championship pick. And don’t be surprised if South Carolina wins by 15+ — the Gamecocks are that good, that deep and that motivated. Read Lindsay Schnell’s full column . 

Caitlin Clark mastered her mental game and that has Iowa in the title game  

Iowa probably doesn’t make this national championship game earlier in Caitlin Clark’s career. 

 When the Hawkeyes’ offense was struggling against UConn on Friday night, when none of Clark’s shots were falling, when the Huskies were bodying the Iowa players from the moment they inbounded the ball, Clark could easily have gotten frustrated. Would easily have gotten frustrated in seasons past. Instead, she stayed almost preternaturally calm. 

Impressive as those logo 3s and her scoring average are, it’s Clark’s maturity that has brought the Hawkeyes within one game of winning it all. And she and everyone else at Iowa agree it’s that part of her game that’s come the furthest these last four seasons. 

“That doesn’t come without work. She’s put in a lot of work to the mental side of her game,” Kate Martin, who has played with Clark all four years, said Saturday. “That just shows how good of a teammate she is. She wanted to be better. She has all the basketball skills that she needs. She’s the best player in the country. But to work on the mental side, you can always get better on that.” Read Nancy Armour’s full story . 

How South Carolina's Raven Johnson used Final Four snub from Caitlin Clark to get even better 

Caitlin Clark almost made Raven Johnson quit basketball. 

The South Carolina guard spent weeks alone in her room, crying as she re-watched last year’s Final Four loss to Iowa. Over and over and over again. 

“More than 100 times probably,” Johnson said Saturday. 

It wasn’t only that Clark had waved off the unguarded Johnson, deeming her to be a non-threat offensively. It was that the clip of Clark doing it had gone viral, Johnson’s humiliation taking on epic proportions. 

“Caitlin's competitive, so I don't blame her for what she did. But it did hurt me,” Johnson said. “I'm just glad I had the resources that I had, the coaches that I had, the teammates that I had to help me get over that hump. And I just feel like it helped me. It made me mentally strong. 

“I feel like if I can handle that, I can handle anything in life." 

Johnson eventually did come out of her room. So she could head to the gym to work on her shot. Read Nancy Armour’s full story . 

South Carolina has chance to be greatest undefeated women's team 

Dawn Staley knows what the stat sheet says.  

According to the numbers, the top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks are undefeated in the 2023-24 season, having been perfect in 37 games heading into their final contest, a rematch with Iowa which will be played Sunday with a national championship on the line.  

But Staley, in her 16th year with the program, isn’t totally sure it’s true. 

“It doesn’t feel like it,” Staley said. “We’ve played some bad basketball this season that made it feel like we lost.”  

In the history of the women’s NCAA Tournament, there have been nine undefeated champions. If South Carolina beats Iowa, the Gamecocks will become the 10th. Read Lindsay Schnell’s full story . 

College coaches demand more accountability from refs. Iowa-UConn call is the latest example 

As women’s basketball explodes in popularity and administrators realize its power as a revenue-generator , pressure to win has ratcheted up. And that makes every call, especially in a close game, matter. 

For all the discourse around the varying issues in college sports — out-of-control, booster-led NIL collectives, a transfer portal that never stops churning and the looming reality of revenue sharing with athletes — coaches, administrators and even officials agree on one thing: The officiating in women’s basketball needs major work. 

The NCAA declined to make Penny Davis, the head of women’s officiating, available to USA TODAY Sports. But others spoke about one of the game’s most problematic issues.  

“I think to the overall point as the game has gotten more spotlight and just more people purchasing tickets, watching on television, the fundamental question as administrators is, have we done enough to look at the officiating?” Utah athletic director Mark Harlan told USA TODAY Sports. “And I think the answer is no.” 

Read Lindsay Schnell’s full story here . 

Kamilla Cardoso is formidable and immovable force for South Carolina 

The most impressive part of Kamilla Cardoso ’s game isn’t the fact that she played through pain Friday night , injuring her knee late in the second half before returning to play the third quarter. It’s that she’s improved throughout the season. Even if she’s not at full strength, she’s a load on the block . 

Most people take noticeable jumps in skill, strength or athleticism in the offseason, when they can devote hours to their craft. It’s hard to work on your individual game during the season, when you’re juggling class, scouting reports and daily practice that’s usually focused on the team. But just a couple months ago, Cardoso had a bad habit of getting buried on the block. She was often rushed when she caught the ball and took terrible angles on shots, frequently shooting underneath the rim.  

Against NC State, she looked like a first-team All-American. She was patient and polished, taking her time to feel the defense before going the other way and scoring — often through a few sets of outstretched arms. For her size, she has impressive body control. And given her mobility, she could be making a case to move up to No. 2 in this month's WNBA Draft . Read Lindsay Schnell's full story from the Final Four . 

Caitlin Clark average points per game

Iowa superstar guard Caitlin Clark is averaging 32 points per game this season on 46% shooting. She also averages nine assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. We are tracking all of Caitlin Clark's stats here . 

Caitlin Clark 3-point percentage 

Caitlin Clark is shooting 38 percent from 3-point range this season. For her career at Iowa, she is shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point range.

Tessa Johnson stats  

South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson averages 6.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 17.3 minutes per game. The 6-foot freshman has appeared in 33 games this season, shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from 3. 

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