CLEVELAND — At the end, in the moments after her iconic Iowa career ended on Sunday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Caitlin Clark could hold her head high with an unwavering belief that you don’t have to win a championship to be a champion, or to be remembered as one.

The confetti fell on the other team again, the trophy was hoisted by South Carolina this time, the empty walk off the floor to the losing locker room belonged to her and Iowa again.

Another sad ending for Caitlin Clark, the 87-75 loser, and for all the young girls who littered the arena in their 22 jerseys. And not so young girls. And for all of Iowa.

Win or lose, it would have been time to say thanks for the memories, because there were more memories than tears confronting the sobering reality that there will be no more memories for a proud Iowa girl to make with her dream team and for her dream school and fan base.

“So much to be proud of, so much to hold our heads high about. … Yeah it stinks, but life goes on,” Caitlin Clark said.

Some will honor her as the GOAT as the all-time college basketball scoring leader, women and men. Some will hesitate, because she came in second to LSU last season and second to South Carolina now and leaves without that precious championship, just as Larry Bird left Indiana State in 1979.