Caitlin Clark is the primary cause for Iowa women’s basketball participating in the Final Four after a span of 30 years.
The talented guard has made a huge impact on the college basketball scene since his arrival in Iowa City three years ago.
On Sunday, in an impressive victory over a team in Louisville, she singlehandedly carried her team to success with 41 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, further solidifying her status as a growing legend in the sport.
TSN’s HQ for Women’s March Madness Live bracket | TV schedule | Odds & Favorites.
Sports legends such as LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and Billie Jean King have all turned to Twitter to shower Clark with admiration.
Haha! But FR She’s so COLD!!!!!!! SHEESH
I want to give a lot of love to superstar Caitlin Clark after she recorded 41 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in Iowa’s over win over Louisville! She’s the first player ever to record a 40-point triple-double in a men’s or women’s NCAA Tournament game. @caitlinclark22
.@CaitlinClark22 of @IowaWBB is the only women’s or men’s player in history with a 40-point triple-double in an #NCAA tournament game. She helped her team make the #FinalFour for the first time in 30 years. Congratulations, Caitlin and Iowa Women’s Basketball!#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/dunB39HBJC
Where is she from, and who is the star of the Hawkeyes? Here’s how she has achieved celebrity status on the hardwood without leaving her home state of Iowa.
Clark was born and raised in West Des Moines, Iowa, approximately a two-hour drive from the University of Iowa campus.
She played under head coach Kristin Meyer at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines. During her time with the Maroons, she racked up numerous accolades, leading the team to two state scoring titles in a row. She was named Basketball Miss Iowa and Player of the Year for her senior season. Additionally, she won two gold medals for the USA Team in the FIBA U19 World Cup 2019 and the FIBA U16 Americas Tournament 2017. She achieved all of this while still in high school.
MORE: When can Caitlin Clark participate in the NBA Draft?
She graduated from high school in 2020 and played with the team until she decided to commit to Iowa State University for college instead of staying in Ames. However, in sixth grade, she began playing for an AAU team based in Ames and also turned down offers from Texas and Notre Dame to join the Hawkeyes.
She expressed her thoughts on her commitment choice, stating, ‘It is a significant decision, therefore it is not one you desire to mishandle.’ ‘I believe the primary aspects regarding Iowa that I admired are, firstly, the opportunity to accomplish something extraordinary that has never been achieved before,’ she stated. ‘I believe that was extremely important to me.’ Moreover, I have a strong bond with my family, hence I desired to be in close proximity to them. I wished for them to attend all of my games, not solely my immediate family but also my aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Caitlin Clark college career
UConn ultimately fell to Iowa in the Sweet 16. Dawn Staley, a guard for UConn, was named to the AP All-American second team and won the Staley Dawn Award for being the best guard in the nation. She led the NCAA Division I in scoring with 26.6 points per game and also averaged 5.9 rebounds and assists per game. Her commitment changed the trajectory of the entire Iowa program.
Creighton caused an upset by defeating the Hawkeyes in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, in the same season, she became the first person to lead in points and assists in the NCAA Division I. Furthermore, she won back-to-back Staley Dawn Awards and became the first player to be unanimously selected for the All-American first-team. As a sophomore, she slightly improved her stellar career by finishing with higher numbers in points, assists, and rebounds per game.
In her first ever NCAA Tournament, she helped Iowa reach its first Final Four in three decades, thanks to a jaw-dropping triple-double of 41 points, 8.6 assists per game, and a career-high average of 27.3 points. As a junior, she has even reached even more impressive heights.
“We can do it together,” said head coach Lisa Bluder after the win, expressing her belief in reaching the Final Four against Louisville with a remarkable 40-point triple-double performance. The way she performs on the basketball court is truly awe-inspiring and I am at a loss for words to adequately describe it. She was truly exceptional. I vividly recall sitting in her living room when I shared my desire to go to the Final Four, and she responded with her own determination.
MORE: John Cena responds perfectly to Caitlin Clark’s ‘You Can’t See Me’ taunt.
Clark and her teammates will now prepare for their toughest test yet: an undefeated matchup against South Carolina, with the national championship trip on the line, scheduled for 9 p.M. ET on Friday, March 31.