Stanford survives against Arizona, wins first national championship since 1992

By Jill Martin, CNN

Updated 10:39 AM ET, Mon April 5, 2021

Stanford players celebrate after the final buzzer sounded in Sunday's championship game with Arizona. The Cardinal won 54-53 for the third title in school history.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Stanford players celebrate after the final buzzer sounded in Sunday's championship game with Arizona. The Cardinal won 54-53 for the third title in school history.
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Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer -- the winningest coach in the history of women's college basketball -- cuts down the net after Sunday's win.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer -- the winningest coach in the history of women's college basketball -- cuts down the net after Sunday's win.
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Arizona assistant coach Jackie Nared Hairston puts her arm around Trinity Baptiste after the game.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Arizona assistant coach Jackie Nared Hairston puts her arm around Trinity Baptiste after the game.
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Stanford players celebrate as a dejected Aari McDonald, left, sits on the court after missing a last-second shot.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Stanford players celebrate as a dejected Aari McDonald, left, sits on the court after missing a last-second shot.
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Stanford players react after McDonald, bottom right, missed her shot at the buzzer.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Stanford players react after McDonald, bottom right, missed her shot at the buzzer.
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Stanford players hug as confetti falls in San Antonio's Alamodome.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Stanford players hug as confetti falls in San Antonio's Alamodome.
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Stanford's Francesca Belibi grabs a rebound in front of Baptiste.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Stanford's Francesca Belibi grabs a rebound in front of Baptiste.
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Fans sit among cardboard cutouts at the game. Fan attendance was limited throughout the tournament.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Fans sit among cardboard cutouts at the game. Fan attendance was limited throughout the tournament.
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Stanford's Lexie Hull shoots over Cate Reese on Sunday.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Stanford's Lexie Hull shoots over Cate Reese on Sunday.
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Arizona head coach Adia Barnes directs her team during the first half of Sunday's game.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes directs her team during the first half of Sunday's game.
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Kiana Williams shoots a floater.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Kiana Williams shoots a floater.
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McDonald steals the ball from Williams.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
McDonald steals the ball from Williams.
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The championship game tips off at the Alamodome. Because of the pandemic, all tournament games were played in Texas this year.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
The championship game tips off at the Alamodome. Because of the pandemic, all tournament games were played in Texas this year.
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Lexie Hull and McDonald battle for a loose ball.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Lexie Hull and McDonald battle for a loose ball.
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Arizona fans cheer on their team Sunday.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Arizona fans cheer on their team Sunday.
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Stanford's Haley Jones drives to the basket Sunday. She finished with a team-high 17 points and was later named the tournament's most outstanding player.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Stanford's Haley Jones drives to the basket Sunday. She finished with a team-high 17 points and was later named the tournament's most outstanding player.
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McDonald lies on the court after being fouled.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
McDonald lies on the court after being fouled.
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Belibi looks for an open shot Sunday.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Belibi looks for an open shot Sunday.
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Stanford huddles before the game.
Photos: The Women's Final Four
Stanford huddles before the game.
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