Youngstown State women's basketball coach Melissa Jackson says women's college basketball is growing thanks to Iowa's Caitlin Clark.

"She's completely changed the landscape," said Jackson who was hired at YSU last month.

"Players like her were going to UConn and Tennessee and she decided to stay home and go to Iowa and look what she's done to the program," said Jackson.

Clark has led the Hawkeyes to their second straight Final Four after losing to LSU in the finals in 2023.

"I think they're the team to beat right now," said Jackson. "Even as good as South Carolina is right now, I think Clark is locked in right now."

North Carolina State and South Carolina play in the first game Friday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.

"I'm going to go with Dawn Staley and South Carolina," Jackson said about the first national semi final. "As good as N-C State is playing right now, I think South Carolina is going to be tough to beat."

In the second game of the doubleheader Friday, Iowa plays UConn.

"The atmosphere at the regional games was unbelievable," said Jackson adding that ticket prices for the women's final four as doubled the men.

"It's a really good time to be part of the sport and its continuing to grow and grow."