How The Women's Gulf Coast Showcase Helped Iowa WBB Reach The Final Four

How The Women's Gulf Coast Showcase Helped Iowa WBB Reach The Final Four

Iowa Women's Basketball punched its ticket back to the NCAA Women's Final Four. Take a look at how the Women's Gulf Coast Showcase jump-started its season.

Apr 3, 2024 by Deondre Hayes
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The stage is set for the NCAA Women's Final Four and Iowa is making its return following a win over No.3 LSU in the Elite Eight. Prior to stepping into March Madness, Iowa kicked off the season at the 2023 Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, FL. 

The Gulf Coast Showcase marked the last preseason tournament before Iowa tipped off its regular season in the Big Ten. Iowa was crowned champion after going 3-0 in the tournament with Caitlin Clark taking home the MVP Award. 

After the Gulf Coast Showcase Iowa would finish 15-3 in conference play and win the Big Ten Tournament, earning them the No.2 Seed overall in the NCAA Tournament. 

In 2014-15 UConn also won the Gulf Coast Showcase before going on to win the Women's NCAA Championship. 

Here's a look at how the 2023 Gulf Coast Showcase helped prepare Iowa for the Final Four. 

Iowa Women's Basketball At Gulf Coast Showcase

Iowa played a total of three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase. Here's a look at the Final Results:  

First round games:

Semifinal games: 

Championship game:

Gulf Coast Showcase Champions In The NCAA Women's Tournament

From the teams at the 2023 Gulf Coast Showcase, Iowa remains the only one still dancing in March Madness. The preseason tournament also featured UNC and Kansas State, who both lost in the second round of the NCAA Women's Tournament. 

However, the Gulf Coast Showcase has proved to produce champions in the past such as UConn in 2014-2015 behind current WNBA star Breanna Stewart. That season would end with UConn winning the third of four straight NCAA Championships from 2013-2016. 

Iowa is the first Gulf Coast Champion to reach the Final Four since that 2014 UConn team, and have a chance at winning its first National Championship in school history. 

Caitlin Clark Stats At The Gulf Coast Showcase

Here's a look at Clarks Stats in the Gulf Coast Showcase.  

  • Clark vs. Purdue Fort Wayne: 29 Points
  •  Clark vs. FGCU: 21 Points
  •  Clark vs. Kansas State: 32 Points

NCAA Women's Final Four Bracket

  • No.1 South Carolina vs. No.3 NC State  Friday, April 5 at 7:00 PM 
  • No.1 Iowa vs. No.3 UConn Friday, April 5 at 9:30 PM
  • NCAA Women's National Championship Game Sunday, April 7, 3 p.m. 

All Times Eastern 

When is the Women's National Championship?

The winners of the Final Four will face off in the National Championship on April 7 at 2:00 pm CT. 

When Is The WNBA Draft 2024?

The WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 15 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York.  

This marks the first time the WNBA Draft will be a seated event with fans in attendance since the 2014-2016 drafts held at Mohegan Sun Arena. 

Watch NCAA Women's Basketball On FloHoops

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