Caitlin Clark’s decision to take her talents to the WNBA weighed heavy on the 22-year-old basketball phenom.
The Iowa point guard — who announced last week that she will declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft — explained in an interview with “Good Morning America” why it was “so difficult” to choose the next chapter in her career journey.
“I think there’s pros and cons to both sides, and that’s what made the decision so difficult,” Clark told Robin Roberts. “It was almost a win-win, but at the same time, a lose-lose, because I was giving up something. I’m just kind of ready for the next chapter and a new challenge in my life. But, I think the reason that I decided to announce it when I did was just to have that closure, especially going into [last Sunday’s] Senior Night.”
Clark, who’s lived in Iowa her entire life, is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the draft, with the Indiana Fever owning that selection.
The Fever also posted a congratulatory message to Clark on Instagram after the Hawkeyes All-American became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer Sunday, when No. 6-ranked Iowa beat No. 2 Ohio State 93-83 in the Hawkeyes’ last regular-season home game.
“We’re playing the No. 2 team in the country on our Senior Night on our home court you can’t really script it any better,” Clark said.
Clark recorded 35 points to pass LSU’s Pete Maravich as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division-I college basketball history with 3,685 career points.
She broke the NCAA women’s record, held by former University of Washington star Kelsey Plum, in Iowa’s 106-89 win over Michigan on Feb. 15.
Clark told Roberts she believes her game will resonate on a professional level because of her style of play and demeanor on the court.
“I think it’s just the style of basketball that I play, but also I think people love the fire, and the emotion that I have and the smile I always have on my face,” Clark said. “To be honest, I don’t get nervous for games because I know this is fun for me. People love the long shots, people love the good passing, people love the fire.”
Beyond her excellence, Clark and LSU star Angel Reese became a national talking point last year during the NCAA Tournament championship game.
Reese gave Clark the “you can’t see me” gesture in the waning seconds with LSU on its way to a 102-85 victory.
“I think it still does surprise me that people get a little distraught about women being competitive and getting into little arguments on the court or having a little trash talk, and that’s how it should be,” Clark said. “I think more than anything its surprising like you guys didn’t know this is how women’s sports are played? Come on.
“You see that every single day in men sports like why can’t women do that too. That’s how it’s always been and that’s how it should be. That’s what makes the game so fun.”
Clark and the Hawkeyes open the Big Ten tournament on Friday against the Wisconsin-Penn State winner.
After that Iowa will enter the NCAA Tournament as one of the betting favorites before Clark ascends to the next level.
“I think its something I’m ready for and that’s why I decided to make this move but also, this is the place I’ve really known all of my life and that was the main reason of coming to the University of Iowa is I wanted to play for my state. I wanted to do something that really had never been done before,” Clark said.
“You see that every single day in men sports like why can’t women do that too. That’s how it’s always been and that’s how it should be. That’s what makes the game so fun.”
