Caitlin Clark describes her emotions entering final game at Iowa
For the second straight season, the Iowa Hawkeyes are going to play for a national championship, led through the Women’s NCAA Tournament by star Caitlin Clark. For Clark, it will be her final game in college and playing for Iowa before moving on to the WNBA.
Ahead of her final game playing for Iowa, Clark described her emotions as she gets ready to try and win a championship against South Carolina.
“To be honest, like I don’t have many emotions of, like, this is the end for me,” Caitlin Clark said. “I certainly know it is, but I don’t think I can go into the game feeling that. I don’t think that would allow me to play my best.”
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“I think it’s kind of similar to senior night for myself, or my last game in Carver versus West Virginia. You’re so focused on competing and enjoying every single second that have and helping your team win that you’re not too caught up in. This is the last time I’m going to put on this uniform, this is the last time I’m going to be playing in this arena, this is the last,” Clark said.
“Like that’s not how we view things around our program. It’s, like, you’re competing for this opportunity. You love this opportunity.”
Caitlin Clark admitted that things could change for her once the game ends. However, for now, her focus is on becoming a champion.
“Once the buzzer hits zero, whether we win or whether we lose, I’ll definitely be hit with a wave of emotion, especially over the course of the next week, as things kind of change in my life quite a bit,” Clark said. “I think just trying to enjoy every single second because I’m fortunate enough to be able to be in the National Championship again and give it everything I got.”
Caitlin Clark on Iowa’s confidence
Ahead of the championship game against South Carolina, Caitlin Clark shared that Iowa’s confidence is at an all-time high.
“The reason we’ve won games all year long is because we play Iowa basketball. And that’s sharing the ball, high assist numbers, low turnovers. Obviously would have liked to have more assists tonight but we didn’t shoot the ball the greatest. Things like that. I think everybody’s confidence has been at an all-time high throughout the Big Ten Tournament and during the NCAA Tournament. And that’s how it needs to be and that’s the reason we’re at this point,” Clark said.
“Going to the national championship game, everybody’s stepping up. It’s not just me. It’s not just one player. That’s not what this is. We wouldn’t be at this point right now if it was just one player. And everybody comes up and makes really big plays when we need them and Sydney Affolter has six offensive rebounds tonight. That’s pretty incredible. So I think it’s the small things. Everybody comes up and does little things that eventually changes the tide of the game. And we’re able to win.”