Caitlin Clark describes 'whirlwind' couple months from NCAA Tournament to WNBA Draft
Few athletes have been in the public eye over the past couple months than Caitlin Clark. Clark, just weeks removed from leading Iowa to the Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game, was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in Monday’s 2024 WNBA Draft.
Clark’s schedule has been hectic, which she described during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” Wednesday. Clark said she’s been doing her best to soak it all in while preparing to move to her new home in Indianapolis.
“The last month or so, two months has just been a whirlwind,” Clark said. “When you reach the Sweet 16, you go straight to the Final Four, so you’re gone for two weeks. Then I went home for like two days. Went to LA, was in New York City and now I’m here in Indianapolis. Finally going home after today which will be nice, but I feel like I’ve tried to do my best. And that’s the biggest piece of advice — like take a breath, soak it in, like you only get drafted one time. You only get these moments once, so you need to enjoy it. You can’t go back and do this ever again.
“I’ve tried to enjoy and tried to soak it in. I haven’t slept much which is maybe a good thing, maybe a bad thing, I don’t know. We’ve been having fun and enjoying every single second. I think the biggest thing is how quick a turnaround it is. That’ll be a big adjustment and I’ll be moving here in like a week.”
Clark won’t have much more time to settle down, as training camp begins on April 28. The regular season then begins on May 14, with the Fever going on the road to take on the Connecticut Sun.
Caitlin Clark ready for debut season with Indiana Fever
Clark was the unanimous No. 1 overall selection in this year’s WNBA Draft following a historic career at Iowa. In 39 games this past season, she posted averages of 31.6 points, 8.9 assists and 7.4 rebounds per game. Clark shot 45.5% from the field and 37.8% from behind the arc. She led the Hawkeyes to their second consecutive Women’s Basketball National Championship Game.
With a pair of made free throw attempts against Ohio State in the regular season finale last month, Clark passed “Pistol” Pete Maravich’s 3,667 career points scored at LSU to sit atop the Division I college basketball all-time scoring list. Maravich’s mark stood for more than 50 years before Clark broke the record.
One year removed from finishing 13-27 and last in the Eastern Conference, the Fever are the most bet on team to win the WNBA championship next season, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Indiana currently has +2000 odds to win their second WNBA title. FanDuel Sportsbook has also taken 10x more bets on Clark (+1200) to win the WNBA MVP than any other player.