I was all for Connecticut, as I have been for years. But ND beat them fair and square, and deserved to advance. And I can't help but be pleased at the quality of basketball, and the high level of skill, we saw during the tournament. It's good for the sport that Connecticut doesn't win it all the time, and that new programs can go deep into the tournament.
I feel for Mississippi State, though. It's really hard in any sport to return to the finals, but they managed it - only to lose once again in the final seconds.
As to the refs, there was an awful lot of contact not called throughout the tournament. This isn't unique to the women's game, and I think there's a tendency of refs to try to maintain some flow, in spite of media timeouts, replays, etc., and to keep players in the game. They also tend to under-call contact when big people rebound or shoot, as if because of their size, they shouldn't be bothered as much (Rebecca Lobo commented on that.).
But no game is decided by one call, or one play. Mississippi State has to recognize that they gave up a huge lead; a single stop during that time, or one fewer missed shot, and ND mightn't have been in a position to win. The finale can be shocking, or exhilarating, but its seeds were sown throughout the game. And these games reinforce the lesson to all the young people watching - you're never out of the game unless you think you are.
8
I'm not a Notre Dame fan, I wanted Mississippi State to win. But as that final shot went through the net and I saw Arike Ogunbowale's huge smile I was very happy for the Notre Dame women. Such pure, unadulterated joy was a pleasure to watch. And with Ogunbowale making 2 last second shots to win games, her special moment should be appreciated and enjoyed by all.
5
Can anyone remember a player hitting two walk off buzzer beaters in a Final Four? Men's or Women's? I don't think so. Arike Ogunbowale accomplished the unaccomplishable! I don't think that's even a word. But, safe to say, no one will do it again. It should be called "The Double Laettner".
4
A great shot at the end. Well.....the play during the entire game was awesome but make no mistake, the refs decided this game (and several others). Was it team bias or only poor officiating? I don't know. I still enjoyed watching the game.
1
The no call against Notre Dame's Mabrey, who basically tackled Teaira McCowan at midcourt to me negates any of the spectacle of this otherwise great win.
How can anyone looking at that play not see the overt foul that was missed? Referees blew this one, Miss State should never have had the ball in the final seconds, period.
1
Congratulations ND and Ms. Ogunbolawe - but - and this is not sour grapes - there were numerous bad calls in the UConn-ND matchup, and this fan felt UConn was robbed.
1
Ogunbowale's jumper in the championship game was easily twice as impressive as her shot in the UConn game. There she basically did a step-back, straight-on jump shot, whereas last night's shot was off-balance with one second on the clock and a hand in her face.
She said she practices for last-second shots, but to actually do it in the biggest game of her life is amazing.
8
Of course Notre Dame wins on Easter Sunday. It was preordained.
5
You don't have to be a Mississippi state fan to see that Mabrey slammed into Morgan William to get the last shot for ND. Longman writes, that "William lost it when she collided with Notre Dame’s Marina Mabrey.." Longman of the Times shows the same bias that the ref did. The obvious foul was shocking. That it went uncalled was shameful... William and McCowan showed great dignity and restraint in not protesting beyond a roll of the eyes towards heaven.
5
I graduated from Notre Dame (back when it was men only), but I agree with you that the refs missed this foul call.
1
Truly a great finish but a tainted one. Refs totally misded the foul call that would have given Mississippi State the ball. And once and for all let's drop God from sports results. As Sparky Anderson once (paraphrased
here) said, "Let's see someone thank God for letting me strike out with the bases loaded in tbe bottom of the ninth." Gid does. It care about winners, losers or point spreads.
1
Congratulations ND!
2
All hail the Lady Fighting Irish hoops team! Too bad Loyola of Chicago couldn’t beat the Wolverines! They just couldn’t pass over them.
3
I’m not much of a sports fan, but looking at that lead photo and the look of pure happiness on those young girls’ faces, fills me with joy. Years of hard work and perseverance paying off all at once. Good for them.
15
Love thee Notre Dame! Great job Ladies. Light up the #1 Sign!
7
All three games in the Final Four were decided by the refs. Commentators and callers on talm radio say "Well, you aren't going to get that call at the end of the game" but as a former high School ref I can tell you the standard you're taught is "Call 'em the same tip-off to buzzer, star or scrub, and end to end." That's what's fair and that's what you're taught. Three games across three days and all three were decided by a dramatic lack of character by the refs. That's the best the NCAA can do?
3
Well, sure, bad calls -- no calls -- at the end of the games. But it was the same all through the games. Just strange the way some really, really blatant fouls were missed.
4
For God's sake, stop with this "Irish" thing. ND bears no relationship to modern Ireland.
4
Well, it IS the school mascot. What should they be called? The Irish-American Diaspora?
3
Saint Arike?
Before the Pope canonizes a person, at least two miracles must be attributed to him or her.
Just saying....
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“Congratulations to Notre Dame,” Vic Schaefer, the Mississippi State coach, said. Just as on Friday, he said, he had seen in the Irish on Sunday “tremendous passion, a relentlessness, a toughness and a resiliency to that bunch. They’re to be commended for that.”
Mike Brey are you listening?
4
No mention of McCowan missing a wide-open layup in waining seconds.
2
First, hats off to Arike Ogunbowale, a clutch player if there ever was one. What struck me was the lack of dominance you would've expected from Mississippi State, given the sheer size of Teaira McCowan. Time and time again she proved that she was as much a drawback as an asset to her team. Her skills need a great deal of improvement, but should the day come when her skills are as impressive as her size, opponents of Mississippi State or later in the WNBA better watch out.
4
It's not the easy win, or the no breathing room or nothing for certain until the final second that makes this victory, ANY victory that much sweeter, appreciated and relished. It's this kind of storybook ending that makes the sport and the team legends. These Notre Dame dames rock!!!! A sincere congrats ladies - you truly earned this year's NCAA title!
10
Congratulations ladies.
5
Congrats to ND! I am a Lady Gamecock fan, but this year's Final Four was an all-timer. I don't have a favorite in the men's final tonight, but their March Madness was divine because I went to UMBC!
5
Excellent job young women!!! Congratulations to you!!
7
Great story. The inspirational read of the day for a person who does not have a television and has not followed this at all, except to note with some satisfaction that UConn was knocked out awhile ago. This is what winning really looks like, not the turgid drama that slouches swampward in Washington.
7
Arike Ogunbowale amazes me with her confidence and ability. Hard work pays dividends when the clock is running out. Have a great life, Arike.
18
This team truly lived up to the "Fighting Irish" nickname. Muffet McGraw is a heck of a coach. What does she know about football? :)
8
...or men's basketball?
2
Thank god, or whom/whatever, for sports.
With the country and world going down the you know what, it's a real breath of fresh air and a genuine thrill to watch these athletes compete!
I'll take Tiger in The Masters!
2
For a group of individuals to care deeply about throwing a big ball through a hoop more times than another group reflects distorted values or perhaps insanity. How is it possible to care so much about so little? In later years most will suffer the consequences of a damaged body and the “glory” will be long forgotten.
You must not have played competitive sports on any level. Fifty years later I still have the wonderful memories of playing on winning high school teams. And some of my best friends to this day were teammates back then. So please don't say you get "so little" out of caring for your team. The joy on these young ladies faces says it all.
Go Irish!
18
Wow Bill...you must not have been part of any group growing up. Playing a sport, or being in the band, or chess club teaches hard Work, winning/losing, sportsmanship, how to take criticism, being part of a team, etc. it is so much more than “throwing a ball through a hoop.”
11
Hey Bill....ease up buddy. If you don't like sports, you're welcome to find other things in life to make you happy. The fact that you've taken time to post this highly depressing and negative comment is very troubling. You may want to consider talking to someone about it..
What a joyful scene. Somebody had to win. But wow were the Mississippi team just as amazing!
Congratulations to the players, their schools, their families, their fans!
23
What a thrilling game between two talented teams. Thanks to NYT for not hiding coverage of the women's game on back pages! Anyone who wasn't moved by the excitement is truly missing out on the passion and spirit that women's basketball can inspire in fans! Please continue to devote more equal coverage among the women's and men's games!
49
I agree! Female athletes do not get equal media coverage. It is very wearying to have men's sports dominate the news all the time, so kudos to NYT for being ahead of your peers. And congratulations ND!
2
The women's Final Four games have been exciting -- so much more so than the men's games. Truly thrilling! Thank you, ladies!
34
The games were exciting because they were close. And they were close because the teams were well-matched. In the past, Connecticut has dominated and the Final Four was not close.
It's a mistake to value a sport based on how close the games are. It is the quality of play that matters. Women's basketball is improving. Men's basketball is generally played at a high skill level. For me, that is the story. Comparing the two is not helpful.
2
Did you actually WATCH the games? The passing, assisting, and defending was second to none. All the men did was have good D and shoot 3 after 3 after 3. UConn has dominated, and now other teams are stepping up -- great for women's bball.
My opinion; 'tis all.
Tense fun final four. It could not have been more heart stopping. Thank you to all the players.
40
What a game, but Coach McGraw, Jesus had nothing to do with it. The women did it all. Tough, confident, talented, and a guard who was willing to deviate from the plan. All should be commended. The fighting Irish!!!
54
You are right - "God doesn't care who wins the game.... But His Mother does" Lou Holtz.
16
If nothing else she recruited them. I was hoping Mississippi State would finally win something on the national level. Notre Dame is able to recruit as few other schools are able to recruit on the national level in so many sports.
You mean God doesn't have favorites in sports?
What an exciting game! I am a Notre Dame fan but I would agree with the Mississippi State fans that Mabrey fouled William at the end. Regardless, Mississippi played with determination and class. Teaira McCowan is especially a class act: a fighter and yet gracious. She will be a solid WNBA player once she gets stronger.
25
That was a most exciting contest that will do wonders for the women's game. I wish I could get better quality video. I want to see that ball go in and the backboard light up. That is as good as it gets.
24