Who Is Caitlin Clark? Know The Jaw-Droppingly Good ‘Naismith’ Player Of The Year!

There are instances when Iowa coach Lisa Bluder’s jaw drops, occasionally during games and frequently during practise. Was Caitlin Clark really the one to make that shot, thread that pass, or complete the layup in the fast break?

Yeah, she has and continues to do so frequently. And it’s every bit as amazing as you could expect. maybe even more.

Who Is Caitlin Clark? Know The Jaw-Droppingly Good NCAAB Player!

Because of her spectacular passes and limitless shooting range, Clark, the 2023 consensus national player of the year, has become as one of the sport’s top stars and a walking highlight reel. Bluder deserves praise as well, notwithstanding Clark’s own ability and inspiration. because she accepts Clark for who she truly is!

“Her freshman year, I definitely had some times I was pulling my hair out,” Bluder said said Thursday, as Iowa prepared to take on overall No. 1 seed South Carolinain  one of two Final Four games Friday night.

“There’s no doubt about it. She had to learn how to play with other players that were good players. In high school she had to do it all on her own. I remember going to her high school games and kids yelling ‘overrated!’ to her from the stands. I just would love to see them today.”

“We had to learn — it was give and take,” Bluder said. “It wasn’t all controlling what she did because I think, when you try to stifle somebody like that, you’re ruining a little bit of the type of player they are. What she does on her own is special. If you were trying to tell her exactly what a good shot is — what a good shot for her is totally different than what a good shot for somebody else is. So she has a little separate set of rules, quite honestly, than other people because she can do things other people can’t do.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr had to learn to do the same with Curry.

“That’s why the product has been so good for myself and this team because I’m just going out there and having fun and enjoying what I do,” Clark said at Iowa’s press conference Thursday. “It’s not to win an award. It’s not for our team to hoist trophies. I think that has all come because we’ve played with the same love of the game we’ve had since we were young girls.”

Throughout her three seasons at Iowa, Clark has averaged 27 points per game. Her long-range 3-point shooting has prompted to parallels to Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors, whose career got off after he led Davidson to the Final Eight of the 2008 Men’s Tournament.

McKeown is most impressed that Clark is shooting 47.4% from the field while taking nine three-pointers per game. That efficiency, combined with 7.4 rebounds per game, is a huge reason why Iowa leads the nation with 87.6 points per game.

“I really think she’s one of a kind,” McKeown said. “Yes, she has some of that Steph Curry from that 3-point shooting ability where she’s got unlimited range. I read a tweet that said, ‘If you’re playing Caitlin Clark on Sunday you have to start guarding her on Saturday.'”

Till has always played basketball for Iowa. The native of Dubuque played at Drake, worked as a coach at a state college and high school, provided colour commentary for Iowa, and was a Big Ten analyst. Together with 2.5 million other spectators, Till, who is currently the Vice President for Hall of Fame Health, witnessed Clark’s triple-double during the Cardinals’ 97-83 NCAA Women’s Tournament triumph.

Sheryl Swoopes, a legendary player for Texas Tech, holds the record after scoring 177 points in five games during the 1993 NCAA Tournament. Swoopes led the Red Raiders to an 80-73 victory against Ohio State in the final game with 47 points. The next year, the Women’s Tournament included 64 teams, and the WNBA was launched.

In addition to being the final time Iowa made it to the Final Four, the 1993 season was a watershed year for the sport. In 30 years, Clark will be accomplishing the unimaginable every single night. In the Hawkeyes’ four tournament games, she scored 120 points.

Around 9:30 p.m. on Friday at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, the most eagerly awaited semifinal between No. 2 Iowa (30-6) and No. 1 South Carolina (36-0) will take place. Although it is the highest compliment to compare Clark to Swoopes, Till is prepared to go farther with that statement.

“There’s Sheryl Swoopes, then the next section was all of UConn and all of their dominance, and now you have Caitlin Clark,” Till said. “She has the same if not a bigger impact on the game as those players and teams did.” 

“You’re now seeing young boys coming to games and cheering for Caitlin Clark and wanting her autograph,” Till said. “Grown men coming to games just to see Caitlin Clark. She has put a lot more eye-balls on the game because of who she is and how she plays the game. She’s just so fun to watch.” 


“I don’t think there has been a player in recent memory that has taken on all ages, all genders nationally the way Caitlin Clark has over the course of the last three years,” McKeown. “That’s the impact she has had, not only her game because she is talented. The triple-doubles, five on the year so far, she’s just been unreal from that standpoint. On top of that, she has a personality that’s very likable. She’s so personal with the fans.” 

“She’s jaw-dropping,” Till said. “She’ll make a pass, and you’ll be like, ‘How in the hell did she see her?’ It’s like she sees it before it develops. You can tell she is anticipating where players are going because on the rare occasion when the player doesn’t go where her pass goes, she’ll let them know it.” 


 

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