NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament 2024: Final Four Odds, Schedule, Bracket | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Michael Green
Published Mar 24, 2026
It's easy to frame the Iowa-UConn matchup as a battle between stars Clark and Paige Bueckers—and that will be one of the top storylines of Friday.
Clark has become a transcendent star in women's basketball, but it's important to remember that Bueckers and UConn ended Clark's first tournament run in the Sweet 16. An ACL injury kept Bueckers out last year, but she's back for her third Final Four appearance.
Bueckers (28 points per game) is just as capable of dominating as Clark. Aaliyah Edwards is a terrific second option for the Huskies, though injuries have heavily impacted their depth.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma is used to managing things at this stage and should find a way to get the most out of a short-handed squad. The big question is whether the Huskies can slow Clark, who dropped 41 points in Monday's win over Angel Reese and LSU.
It's a matchup that favors Iowa, as UConn's perimeter defense (36th in opposing three-point percentage) is solid but not elite. Clark's range and consistency should allow the Hawkeyes to take advantage.
UConn is a tremendous team, though, and this one could go either way. It could also be a grueling game that has a lasting impact with a short turnaround to Sunday.
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