Caitlin Clark downplays thoughts on WNBA, Indiana Fever
With a bright basketball future ahead of Caitlin Clark, she got a look at what her next home could potentially be like in Indiana with the Fever, the state’s WNBA franchise, owning the No. 1 pick. However, with all due respect, she says that is the furthest thing from her mind right now in the midst of her senior season at Iowa.
Clark had to address her professional career following a question at the postgame press conference last night after an 86-69 loss for the Hawkeyes to Indiana in Bloomington last night. She made it clear that her focus is on her present with her team at Iowa considering it’s already a home for her.
“You know, honestly, I’m just focused on this team right now,” said Clark. “Playing my heart out for Iowa and getting to represent my state every single day. That’s what it’s all about.”
In the end, Clark’s time in the WNBA is going to come at some point or another. That’s why, with another year of eligibility on the table, she’s going to leave that process for after the season since it’ll be in front of her down the line anyways.
“I’m not really too worried about the future,” said Clark. “That is what it is. It comes when it comes – whatever I decide.”
Clark is putting up another stellar season as a sensation at the collegiate level. She’s the nation’s leading scorer and leader in assists at 32.4 points and 8.5 assists per game. That includes 16 performances of 30 or more points that helped her break the all-time scoring record last week.
With that resumé, Clark would be a clear option to be the No. 1 pick in any WNBA Draft, including this one with the Fever on the clock. It’d be an impactful selection considering what she brings both on the floor and as an attraction.
Still, with that said, the conversation obviously isn’t one that Clark wants to have yet. She’s continuing to take it one day and game at a time in what may be her last season. That means, for her, all that’s up next are the Fighting Illini on Sunday.
“I go game-by-game,” said Clark. “I got to learn from this, I’ve got to move on. Then we’ve got a really good Illinois team at home so we’ve got to get ready for that.”
Rebecca Lobo contextualizes accomplishments of Caitlin Clark, her place in history
Caitlin Clark rewrote history in a 17-point win over Michigan. In that victory last week, she broke Kelsey Plum’s all-time scoring record in women’s collegiate basketball
While the Hawkeye star’s scoring totals are one of a kind, though, there’s another part of her game that stands out to Rebecca Lobo.
“One thing we never see with Iowa games is Caitlin Clark coming down and taking a deep three when she has someone open under the basket. She makes that pass,” Lobo said during halftime of South Carolina vs. Georgia this past weekend. “You never see body language from her teammate when she takes a three. Anybody like standing in the corner, ‘I’m open and you miss me’. You never see teammates lower their shoulders in frustration because of the shot she takes.”
“She makes everybody better. She is the best scorer we have seen, probably, in the history of the women’s game. The best, or I should say best offensive player, we have seen.”