Geno Auriemma EATS HIS WORDS on Live TV In Caitlin Clark’s NCAA Homecoming!

Caitlin Clark stays humble about her status but says the sky is the limit for the team

Smith said Clark is, in his opinion, without a doubt the best college athlete in the world right now. Clark was much more humble about herself, saying she had achieved a childhood dream just by getting to play college basketball. For her, there’s still much more room for improvement.

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“I hope to have a long professional career,” Clark said. “It’s always been a dream to be in the spotlight like this.”

Clark grew up watching and idolizing WNBA star Maya Moore and NBA sharpshooter Stephen Curry, and she said she’s just trying to mimic some of their skills and “be half as good.” Smith called Clark the female Curry. Shapiro, a TV and media executive, later joked that Curry might be the male Clark by the time her professional career is over.

Clark said anything is possible for the Hawkeyes this season despite losing key players McKenna Warnock and Monika Czinano from last season’s NCAA runner-up team.

“I think we can be undefeated,” Clark said.

She also praised the support Hawkeye fans have shown, including selling out every Iowa women’s basketball home game for the coming season. Next Sunday, more than 50,000 fans will gather at Kinnick Stadium for the Crossover at Kinnick event, a women’s basketball scrimmage between Iowa and DePaul.

Caitlin Clark loves her spot as the face of women’s basketball, wants to continue to grow sports for girls

Smith wondered how Clark felt about her “mission,” as he described it, to influence the lives of young people, especially young girls.

“When I talk about you, I’m talking about your greatness as a player, but people who know you talk about your greatness as a person.”

Clark embraces that role, she said, always stopping to sign autographs and taking pictures when she can.

“That’s something I embrace something that’s special to me — (continuing) to move the game forward, not only basketball, but women’s sports in general,” Clark said.

Following up last year’s historic season will be hard, but another is coming

Smith said he had always been taught that failure is the recipe for success, leading him to ask how the LSU loss in the NCAA final impacted Clark and her team. He asked what they learned from the time they spent reflecting on the season after the defeat and the end of a historic Hawkeye season.

“I learned how hard it is to get there and how hard it is to get back,” Clark said.

The real crushing blow, Clark said, was the fact that she knew she wouldn’t get to go through practice with her teammates every day.

“I’m just going to enjoy every single moment,” she said.

She offered high praise to her head coach, Lisa Bluder, for allowing her the freedom to play to her strengths.

“I’m lucky enough to be at a school where Coach Bluder lets me thrive, lets me do what I do best,” Clark said. “That’s one of the reasons I came here is, you know, I didn’t want to play for a coach that was going to handcuff me and not let me be me.”

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She also continued to thank Hawkeye fans for their support and love in helping support the future of women’s athletics and supporting her and her teammates.

Referring to this season’s roster turnover: “It’s different, and you know, that’s what’s going to make it so fun.”

She added: “It’s going to be another historic season.”

Is this the final season of Caitlin Clark as a Hawkeye?

Smith declared that Clark would certainly be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft whenever she decides to go. She has two full seasons of eligibility remaining but can move on to the WNBA draft after this season if she chooses.

Clark said that is the toughest decision she will have to make at the end of the season. Does she go pro, leaving her home state and a place that has embraced her and helped her blossom into a star, or stay for another year?

The crowd answered with loud chants of “One more year!” before Smith reminded the delirious Hawkeye fans that this year is still ahead.

“I’m just trying to enjoy this year,” Clark said with a smile.