LeBron James, others react to call at end of Iowa-UConn game

Connecticut Huskies forward Aaliyah Edwards was whistled for an iffy offensive foul call that had fans irate. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James, others react to controversial call at end of Iowa-UConn game

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated 4/6/24

Caitlin Clark and the rest of the Iowa Hawkeyes advanced to their second straight NCAA National Championship Game. A handful of fans believed they had some help getting there.

Iowa outlasted UConn 71-69 in the Final Four held Friday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.

UConn had its final shot seemingly taken away in the closing seconds. The Huskies had possession trailing 70-69 with 10 seconds left in the contest.

But once UConn finally got the ball into the hands of top scorer Paige Bueckers, Huskies forward Aaliyah Edwards was whistled for an iffy offensive foul call.

Legitimately one of the worst offensive foul calls I’ve ever seen… Let alone with 4 seconds left & the game on the line.

Feel sick for Aaliyah Edwards & UCONN. There’s just no world where this is a moving screen. Brutal. pic.twitter.com/73AYbGmAnT

— Josh Reynolds (@JoshReynolds24) April 6, 2024

A handful of spectators — including LeBron James — couldn’t believe the referees made the call at such a critical juncture to decide a Final Four game.

NAAAAAHHHHHH!!! I ain’t rolling with that call.

— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 6, 2024

refs calling that illegal screen on UCONN pic.twitter.com/VLKogEbpt0

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 6, 2024

Refs carrying Caitlin Clark to the championship game pic.twitter.com/KRFPjwaKIt

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) April 6, 2024

refs right before UCONN inbounded the ball: pic.twitter.com/C23Q0SKdiP

— bum (@BattleRapBum) April 6, 2024

I hate the end of that game. That's a damn shame. Iowa came to play and so did UConn. That's absolutely NOT how you determine a game like this.

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) April 6, 2024

Polarizing call aside, Iowa still deserved all the credit in the world for mounting a comeback in the second half.

Despite a relatively pedestrian game from Clark, the Hawkeyes made big plays down the stretch to topple the Huskies. Clark even made a high-IQ play with a second to play to shave precious milliseconds off the clock.

CAITLIN CLARK THROWS IT OFF OF BUECKERS TO WASTE TIME OMFGGGG

GENIUS. pic.twitter.com/zKDEnioYaR

— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) April 6, 2024

Hannah Stuelke led Iowa with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Kate Martin also added 11 points and eight rebounds. Both Stuelke and Martin made some clutch buckets while taking advantage of the defensive attention Clark had drawn all game.

Clark finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists on 7-of-18 shooting.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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