Coach Kim Mulkey and Baylor celebrate their 80-61 victory over Notre Dame in the NCAA women's national championship game at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Tuesday night. The Bears finished the season with an amazing 40-0 record.

Brittney Griner cuts down the net after leading the Bears with 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.

Baylor players storm the court after the buzzer sounds. The Bears shot 50 percent from the field (29 of 58) and 85.7 percent from the line (18 of 21) in the win.

Notre Dame players leave the court after the loss. It's the Irish's second consecutive title game defeat. Last year they fell to Texas A&M; this season they had the unfortunate task of trying to beat a perfect Baylor team.

Brittney Griner reacts during one of the many positive moments for the Bears. The Player of the Year, who was often double-teamed and at times triple-teamed, scored 17 of her 26 points in the second half.

Brittney Griner and Jordan Madden embrace coach Kim Mulkey after the championship win.

Coach Muffet McGraw might have lost back-to-back title games, but the Irish can hold their heads high after a 35-4 season.

The Bears pose with the championship trophy after their win over Notre Dame. Notice one of their top fans seated in front, Baylor's Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Baylor's Brittney Griner blocks a shot by Notre Dame's Kayla McBride during the first half. The Bears held the Irish to 35.5 percent shooting (22 of 62) to win a second national crown — the first came in 2005.

Notre Dame's Natalie Achonwa (left) and Markisha Wright have Baylor's Brooklyn Pope in a tight spot during Tuesday's title game. Pope was the Bears' top player off the bench, finishing with eight points and four rebounds. Achonwa was the Irish's top reserve with seven points and six boards.

Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins (4) talks to forward Devereaux Peters during the second half. Diggins finished with a team-high 20 points for the Irish, which managed to get within three points early in the half before the Bears sealed it with a 33-11 run.

Brittney Griner seems to be playing above all the Irish players during the Bears' victory. Baylor became the seventh women's team to finish a season undefeated, but the first in the NCAA-era to go 40-0.

Baylor players react after guard Kimetria Hayden sinks a 3-pointer in the second half. Tuesday marked the Bears' second win over the Fighting Irish this season. Baylor defeated Notre Dame in the preseason WNIT 94-81 on Nov. 17.

Baylor's Odyssey Sims and Notre Dame's Brittany Mallory battle for a loose ball during second-half action. Sims finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in the win.

Notre Dame's Natalie Achonwa hopes to get an offensive charge call on Baylor's Brittney Griner during the first half.

Baylor and Notre Dame position for a rebound during the title game. The Bears end up winning the battle of the boards 45-24.

Notre Dame's Devereaux Peters and Natalie Novosel try their best to stop — or at least slow down — Baylor's Brittney Griner. The Player of the Year scored nine first-half points as the Bears took a 34-28 lead into the break.

Notre Dame's Natalie Novosel attempts a shot over Baylor's Brittney Griner during the first half at the Pepsi Center. With the 6-8 Griner in the way most of the evening, Novosel struggled, finishing 0 for 11 from the field and with five points — all free throws.

Baylor's Odyssey Sims reacts after losing control of the ball as Notre Dame's Natalie Achonwa and Skylar Diggins defend during the opening half.

Baylor coach Kim Mulkey seems to ask a referee for a little help during the opening half of the championship game.

Baylor's Brittney Griner shoots over Notre Dame's Markisha Wright in the first half. While Griner is 6-8, the Irish's tallest player is 6-3.

Baylor forward Destiny Williams looks for an opening as the Bears finish the season 40-0 along with a national championship. Williams had 12 points and six rebounds in the victory.

Notre Dame's Devereaux Peters shoots the ball over Baylor's Kimetria Hayden during the first half.

Baylor's Brittney Griner and Notre Dame's Devereaux Peters jump for the opening tip-off. Both teams were No. 1 seeds in their respective regions.

The Air Force cadets get the show under way with the singing of the national anthem.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans Nick Reineke (left) and Chris Wilbar watch warm-ups before Tuesday's championship game against the Baylor Bears at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

A member of the Baylor Bears band performs during the game.

Cheerleaders for the Baylor Bears perform at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan Kevin Morrison, from Granger, Ind., poses for a photo outside the Pepsi Center before the game.

Baylor's Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III poses for a photo with military members before the game.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Brittany Mallory (front) and teammates stretch before the game.

Bears center Brittney Griner stretches before the game.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish band members perform before the game.

Baylor fans hold up signs in support of their Bears before the start of the championship game in Denver.