South Carolina Women Win NCAA Championship; Gamecocks Finish Season 39-0

Aaron Doster for USA Today Sports & Reuters

Dawn Staley extended her arms up into the air, tilted her head back and closed her eyes as tears seeped out and confetti rained down upon her and her team. 

For the third time in program history, Staley led her team to a national championship. But this time was different. This time her team was undefeated.

Staley's Gamecocks routed the Iowa Hawkeyes 87-75 in the NCAA tournament final on Sunday to finish the season 39-0, just the 10th time in women's DI tournament history an undefeated team has claimed the title. 

But success didn't just fall into the lap of this South Carolina team.

After last season, the Gamecocks lost all five starters, including WNBA star and No. 1 overall draft pick Aliyah Boston. But coming into this year, Staley and her squad didn't skip a beat.

Under Staley's guidance, 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso, who was once Boston's backup, emerged as one of the biggest threats in women's college basketball, and was named the Most Outstanding Player in this year's women's March Madness tournament. 

After their victory, Cardoso had nothing but glowing remarks for Staley.

"She's the best in the business, you already know," Cardoso said in an interview with CNN.

Cardoso has since been selected by the Chicago Sky with the 3rd pick in the WNBA draft. She teams up with Angel Reese, the former LSU phenom.

Adam Hunger for AP Photos