What Dawn Staley, South Carolina said about No. 1 scoring defense vs Caitlin Clark, Iowa

DALLAS — Is Brea Beal excited to test herself against Caitlin Clark, the best offensive player in the country? The South Carolina women's basketball senior, who was a finalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, responded with a chuckle.

"A lot of people say it, but that's just me with anybody I guard," Beal said Thursday. "I don't really put anybody above the others because anybody can go off. When they play us, anything can happen."

No. 1 South Carolina (36-0) will face Clark and Iowa (30-6) at American Airlines Center on Friday (9:30 p.m., ESPN) in arguably the most anticipated matchup of either the men's or women's Final Four. The headliners are Clark and Gamecocks star Aliyah Boston: Boston beat out Clark to sweep the National Player of the Year awards in 2022, but Clark came out on top this season winning both the Naismith Trophy and Associated Press Player of the Year.

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However, Clark versus Boston will rarely happen head-to-head on the court. The 6-foot-5 Boston is the best post player in the country, while Clark, a 6-foot guard, loves to hang on the perimeter — even several feet behind it. The Iowa junior's range on 3-point shots is one of her most impressive traits, and it will be up to the Gamecocks' guards to slow down her elite scoring capacity.

South Carolina's goal is to keep it simple and run the defense that has propelled it to the first undefeated regular season in program history and a third consecutive Final Four appearance.