If you didn’t know the name Caitlin Clark before, it is time that you learn.
Caitlin Clark is a 6-foot sophomore at the University of Iowa. She starts at guard for the Hawkeyes, who are ranked 25th nationally and third in the Big Ten with a 15-6 record— and she is the best thing that has ever happened to them.
For everyone with prehistoric thoughts that women’s sports cannot be exciting and anything that women can do, men can do better, get with the times and tune into one of Clark’s game. The tape will speak for itself.
Caitlin Clark’s Season of Dominance
Cailtin Clark’s absurd stat line reads 27.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per night. She is leading all of America in scoring and assists, a feat which has only been accomplished one time on the men’s side (Trae Young in 2017-18).
Her most explosive outings this season include 43 points and seven rebounds in a narrow loss to #23 Ohio State, a game in which she made seven three-pointers, 35 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a blowout win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, her second 30-point triple-double in four days, and 44, eight, and five against Evansville.
Clark’s captivating performances have not come as a surprise, however; after posting a similar line of 26.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.9 rebounds as a freshman, it took top-seeded UConn and Paige Bueckers to knock Iowa out in the semifinal of the Women’s National Championship tournament. Since then, she has been back with a vengeance.
The Takeover Factor
Clark roasted the defense of #6 Michigan in her last appearance on the hardwood, lighting the Wolverines up for 46 points (6-13 3PT), 10 assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
Although Clark’s squad did ultimately come up eight points short against UM, the sophomore logged a significant piece of history by sinking two shots from beyond 35 feet in the contest; to put this in perspective, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, and James Harden, five of the National Basketball Association’s most prolific long-range snipers, have never made multiple shots from 35 feet in the same game in a combined 4,500+ games.
Before anybody thinks of making the argument that her shooting percentages are not great this season, and she is not facing lengthy and taller defenders like in the NBA, just go watch the game back. Clark’s second of the two heaves came three seconds into the new shot clock in transition and with a defender right on her— it did not matter. The girl can shoot, and just because she cannot throw down a windmill jam does not mean that she is not box office material.
The latest of ESPN’s bracketology has the Hawkeyes slated as the sixth seed, setting up a duel with the 16-5 unranked Missouri State Lady Bears.
Next on Clark’s list of future accomplishments will be knocking off a ranked opponent, which she has not been able to do as the leader of her team in three tries this season. This is not for a lack of trying, as she is averaging 38.3 points, 6.7 assists, and five rebounds on 48.2% shooting in these games.
Iowa’s next game is against Minnesota on Wednesday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET
