Dawn Staley: Caitlin Clark needs title to enter 'GOAT' conversation

According to South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, one thing stands in the way of Iowa's Caitlin Clark being considered one of women's college basketball's greatest of all time: Staley's Gamecocks.

During a Saturday news conference ahead of Sunday's championship game, Staley discussed what a title for Clark, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, would mean for her legacy.

"If Caitlin wins the championship, she's pretty damn good, yeah, like she's a GOAT. I mean, she's really damn good regardless. But winning a championship would seal the deal," Staley said, per ESPN's Andrea Adelson.

"I hope to the dear Lord she doesn't," she continued.

Staley lamented the fact that a national title was the one thing missing from her decorated career at Virginia from 1988-89 through 1991-92.

"I was really good in college, never won a championship. You've got to win a championship," Staley said.

Staley was named National Player of the Year twice and Most Outstanding Player for the 1991 NCAA Tournament. That year, she logged 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals in an overtime loss to Tennessee in the national championship game.

Staley would likely be fine with Clark following in her footsteps as only the second woman to be named MOP in a losing effort.

Last season, Iowa and South Carolina met in the national semifinals and Iowa pulled off a 77-73 upset. Clark had 41 points, eight assists, six rebounds and a steal in the win.

Per ESPNBet, South Carolina is a 6.5-point favorite in the rematch, which should draw a massive audience.

Fans will witness one of two things: either the Gamecocks complete the first perfect season since UConn (2016) or Clark ends her college career with a very compelling argument to be considered the greatest the sport has ever seen.