What comes next for Caitlin Clark following her NCAA career at Iowa that broke records?
The University of Iowa basketball star has her sights set on the WNBA.
A year that changed the course of women’s basketball
At the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on April 07, 2024, during the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament National Championship, Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, dribbles around Bree Hall, #23 of the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Jason Miller via Getty Images
Basketball player at the University of Iowa, Caitlin Clark, is embarking on her next journey following a difficult defeat in the NCAA women’s championship for the second consecutive year.
The South Carolina Gamecocks defeated Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes 75-87 on Sunday in Cleveland during the NCAA women’s basketball final.
Clark’s record-breaking collegiate basketball career came to an end with this game.
Clark, a 22-year-old native of Iowa, became the NCAA women’s basketball lifetime scoring leader in just one season after shattering the record for all-time scoring, which had stood for more than 50 years.
Here are three things to be aware of regarding Clark’s future.
1. She intends to join the WNBA.
Earlier this year, Clark declared her intention to forgo playing one more season of collegiate basketball in order to declare for the WNBA draft.
As for the next chapter and a new challenge in his life, Clark told co-anchor Robin Roberts of “Good Morning America” in March. And this place has allowed me to do some really wonderful things. However, I believe that having that closure was the only reason I chose to make the announcement at that time.”
Clark, who is anticipated to be selected first overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, will shortly find out where she will play her first professional basketball games.
This year’s first pick in the draft is owned by the Indiana Fever.
ESPN will broadcast the 2024 WNBA draft, which takes place in Brooklyn on Monday, April 15.
2. But first, she might go to Paris for the summer.
Clark might make a detour in Paris to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics before moving on to the WNBA.
ESPN reports that Clark received an invitation from USA Basketball to participate in the Olympic training camp in Cleveland from April 3–5. However, the dates of the camp coincided with the NCAA women’s Final Four weekend.
Clark may participate for Team USA in the women’s Olympic 5-on-5 team or the newly introduced 3×3 team, which made its debut at the 2020 Games. In both of the Tokyo events, the United States came in first place.
MORE: Head coach Dawn Staley of South Carolina talks about a flawless season and her third NCAA title
When the rosters will be confirmed, USA Basketball has not yet released a statement. The dates of the Paris Olympics are set for July 26 to August 11.
ESPN reports that WNBA players and past Olympians Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, Ariel Atkins, Chelsea Gray, A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd are also competing for spots on Team USA.
3. Her impact on the WNBA is expected to be highly anticipated.
The goal of those who support women’s basketball is for Clark to have the same influence on the WNBA that she did on women’s college basketball.
Coach Dawn Staley of South Carolina expressed her hope that Clark may “elevate” the game in the WNBA following Sunday’s contest.
“I think she’s the sole responsibility of our game being raised to this level of playing, as many women’s games basketball games were on national television,” Staley remarked regarding Clark. “She seems to surpass herself each time she performs. Few people possess the ability to demand and command that kind of attention, and Caitlin is one of them.”
Staley went on, “I know she has a lot on her plate because of all that she contributes to women’s basketball. I would like to express our gratitude. We’re appreciative of her decision to play basketball. We like her handling of everything. Her next move is to play in the WNBA; I believe she has what it takes to elevate us.”
Prior to Sunday’s championship game, Clark played in two previous March Madness games that set records for viewership.
The victory of Iowa against University of Connecticut on Friday night drew the highest audience for an ESPN basketball broadcast and the most views of any women’s basketball game ever, with an average of 14.2 million people, according to the network.
According to ESPN, the previous record for women’s basketball viewers was 12.3 million for the Iowa vs. Louisiana State University game that took place last Monday.
MORE: Caitlin Clark breaks scoring records and declares for the WNBA draft, saying she’s “ready for the next chapter.”
Tickets for home games surged by more than 160% over the previous season when Clark broke scoring records at Iowa.
Throughout her collegiate career, Clark expressed her gratitude for the increased interest in women’s basketball.
In a press conference held on Sunday after the game, Clark stated, “Women’s sports just kind of thrives when you’re given an opportunity.” That, in my opinion, has been the most awesome experience I’ve had thus far. Our season began with a 55,000-person crowd at Kinnick Stadium, and it is already coming to a finish with a TV audience of at least 15 million viewers. It simply keeps getting better and better and better. That will always continue.”