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Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark has been drafted as the No.1 pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The Division I all-time top scorer broke many records with Iowa and took women's basketball to a whole new level.
In her first press conference after joining Indiana, Clark revealed the reason behind joining Iowa in her freshman season.
"Dr. Grant was on the forefront of Title IX. The University of Iowa was on the forefront of Title IX. To me, it's the only places in the country that supports women's sports for 50 years, consistently and across the board, not just women's basketball. You go to the University of Iowa and every single sport is supported in the exact sam way," said Cailtin Clark.
"I think that's exactly what women's sport can be in our coutry. It's just giving them the opportunity, giving them the resources, investing in them the exact same way. That was a huge reason I went there. To accomplish what we accomplished, it comes with a little more sense of pride to wear Iowa across your chest and know you're representing the people of your state that have supported you for so long," adde Clark.
Caitlin Clark led Iowa to two NCAA tournament finals but lost to LSU in the first and South Carolina in the second. Despite the lack of an NCAA title, Iowa had an amazing season. She broke the record for most points and three-pointers in a single Division I season by any player in her sophomore season.
Clark was majorly responsible for the increased viewership in women's basketball as every match that she featured in generated hype. Iowa's final against South Carolina averaged 18.9 million viewers, breaking all viewership records, including the men's final, which averaged 14.4 million viewers.
Clark averaged 31.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game in the 2023-24 season. She was honored with the National Player of the Year award in her junior and senior seasons. After an incredible season, she won the Naismith and Wooden Best Women's Player of the Year 2024.
Indiana Hoosiers' relationship with Clark
In the same press conference, Clark revealed how she was booed whenever she played at Indiana in the past. Nobody knew at that time that she would be picked up by Indiana Fever as the No.1 pick in the future!
She explained why it was strange at first to get selected by Indiana. She admitted to having loved beating the Indiana Hoosiers in college as they were one of her favorite opponents in the Big Ten.
"I hated playing at Indiana and they hated me. Hopefully, a lo of them turn into Indiana Fever fans," said Clark with a smile.
Also Read: Coco Gauff: "If I could go in another life, I would love to play on the same time as Caitlin Clark"
