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Fansided

Boston Celtics reporter melts down over ending to UConn-Iowa: 'One of the worst calls of all time"

By Andrew Hughes

Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) claps after a basket during the Final Four round of the NCAA
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) claps after a basket during the Final Four round of the NCAA / Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA
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Boston Celtics reporter Jared Weiss of The Athletic was raging at the end of the UConn-Iowa women's Final Four game on April 5; an instant classic that, to some, was marred by an overzealous whistle on an off-ball screen from UConn's Aaliyah Edwards on Iowa's Gabbie Marshall.

"Genuinely one of the worst calls of all time there on that UConn illegal screen," Weiss said. "I can’t believe that just happened."

Weiss explained that while the call was likely the right one, the refs almost always swallow the whistle in that moment -- and should have with seconds left in a Final Four game involving one of the all-time greatest college basketball coaches (Geno Auriemma) and the all-time Division I scoring leader (Caitlin Clark).

"Oh it was definitely a moving screen," Weiss prefaced before saying, "But they don’t call those 99% of the game and the context of the play is 1.) it’s the final play and 2.) Iowa switched anyway. The call will be deemed correct and refs will formally say you call every play the same, but that’s not reality."

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser is a fan of Caitlin Clark

Sam Hauser commented on Clark's dominance following the Hawkeyes' Elite Eight 94-87 win over LSU on April 1, giving her props for stealing the show in not just the women's game, but in college basketball overall.

“Caitlin Clark is stealing the show of basketball, not only in the women’s game but also the men’s game,” Hauser said (h/t The Associated Press). “She’s just really good. And she’s definitely worth the watch.

“I remember UConn dominating for years, but now it's a more even playing field in women's basketball. And (Clark) has just grabbed everyone's interest for sure.”

For the second straight year, Iowa is in the championship game. If Clark can get the Hawkeyes over the hump, her resume will be solidified as singularly the greatest in college basketball.

Because anyone on Auriemma's teams over the years had other greats on them. Clark's teammates are talented, but they won't go onto become WNBA greats who teamed with other greats at UConn like all of the Huskies throughout the 21st century.

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