LSU overcomes Iowa for their first NCAA women's basketball title.

Kim Mulkey went back to Louisiana because she wanted to help LSU win its first basketball title. In only her second year at the school, the Hall of Fame coach did just that.

On Sunday, her Tigers beat Caitlin Clark and Iowa 102-85 thanks to a record-setting offence. This was the school's first basketball title, men's or women's.

"I turn around and look at the Final Four banners (in the home arena), and nowhere does it say national champion," Mulkey said. "I came home to do just that."

Mulkey became the first coach of women's teams to win a national championship at two different schools. Before going to LSU two years ago, she won three at Baylor.

Mulkey said, "Coaches coach for their whole lives, and this is the fourth time I've been lucky enough to do it." "In the history of men's or women's basketball at LSU, no one has ever played for a championship."

Mulkey, who was dressed in a sparkly, golden, tiger-striped outfit and was very outgoing, now has the third-most national titles, after Geno Auriemma (11) and Pat Summitt (8). Mulkey has never lost a game for the championship.

She said, "My tears are tears of joy." "Everyone back home in Louisiana must be so happy.

Clark, who was named the national player of the year by the Associated Press, couldn't help the Hawkeyes win their first national title, even though she had one of the best individual performances in NCAA Tournament history. The junior finished with 30 points, including 40 in the semifinals to beat unbeaten South Carolina. In the Elite Eight, she had the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA history.

Sheryl Swoopes scored 177 points in a tournament in 1993 to help Texas Tech win the title. Clark ended her tournament with 191 points, which is the most ever scored in an NCAA tournament.

The previous record for most points in a championship game was 97, which Texas scored against Southern California in 1986. With 102 points, they broke that record.

Mulkey laughed and said, "So much for preaching defence and getting the ball back."

First lady Jill Biden and tennis legend Billie Jean King watched the game from a suite above the court.

Mulkey told the AP that she hadn't met the first lady yet, but that she would go to the White House if the team was invited.

LSU got points from Jasmine Carson (22), Alexis Morris (21) and Angel Reese (15 points and 10 rebounds) (34-2).