Caitlin Clark’s Rise Reaches New Pinnacle

NCAAW, second to New York’s own Sabrina Ionescu during her time at the University of Oregon.

But it doesn’t stop there. Just last week against Indiana University, in what was a rematch circled on the Hawkeyes calendar since their defeat against the Hoosiers earlier in February, Clark hit one of the most electric game-winners you’ll see this season. With just 1.5 seconds left in the game on the inbound, Clark took the pass, turned, shot the ball off balance and sank it as the buzzer sounded.

What was most telling was her immediate reaction to seeing the ball go in, and that was to run right to the Hawkeye fanbase. Without hesitation, she sprinted to the baseline section of fans to celebrate, and that truly embodies her commitment to bringing these fans a championship before she moves on to the WNBA in a year or two. The entire fanbase completely adores her as well. Recently when asked if she was considering taking a fifth year from COVID-19 eligibility, she replied, “I just love this place. I love getting to play in front of a sold-out crowd every single night. I love college basketball. I don’t know. It would be hard to leave.”

Her dominant statistics are extensively aided by her threepoint shooting range, which seems to have no limit. Clark consistently shoots from logoarea distances and oftentimes drills them. Outside of that, she’s also a dynamic playmaker who can get in the paint for a rebound too. Her play style has left many wondering what she can’t do on the court.

The success she’s found doesn’t stop at individual accolades either, she’s now led her team to a 26-6 record and most recently secured the Big Ten tournament championship in dominating fashion against The Ohio State University, winning 105-72.

The timing for the team’s success could not come at a better time. With the NCAA Tournament just around the corner, Iowa has proven they can compete with late season acquisitions of midfielders Erik Thommy, Nemanja Radoja and forward Willy Agada, who scored eight goals in just 12 games played last year.

Vancouver made improvements at both ends, bringing in FC Augsburg striker Sergio Cordova and defender Mathias Laborda from Uruguay’s Nacional while San Jose brought in former Dallas and Augsburg midfielder Carlos Gruezo and goalkeeper Daniel from Internacional despite losing veteran midfielders Jan Gregus and Eric Remedi. Colorado may have made the biggest splashes among the lower finishing teams in the west, including designated player center back Andreas Maxso from Denmark’s Brondby, midfielder Connor Ronan from Wolves in the Premier League and winger Kevin Cabral, whose salary is being partially retained by the LA Galaxy.

Likely to join newcomers St. Louis at the bottom of the Western Conference are the Houston Dynamo, who despite bringing in Artur from Columbus, Brad Smith from DC, Ivan Franco from Club Libertad in Paraguay and Amine Bassi from Ligue 1’s FC Metz, have been dwelling in the West’s basement since 2017 and are probably still beneath playoff quality.

Imbalance between the Eastern and Western Conference is not a new thing in MLS, the East was probably stronger than the West last year as well, but the only thing that matters in the end is who lifts the trophy at the end of the season. With MLS’s famed unpredictability and advertised parity, it would not be out of the realm of possibility for every word you have just read to be proven wrong as early as June. Only time and the soccer gods will tell.

Clark recorded a 30-point triple-double in the Big Ten title game. anyone. Expect this team to still be around come Final Four time where we could be poised for a generational matchup against powerhouses like Dawn Staley’s University of South Carolina or even Geno Auriemma’s University of Connecticut.

Regardless if the NCAA gets one or two more years of Caitlin Clark, it’s clear as long as she’s suiting up for the Hawkeyes, she’s going to be electric. Iowa has capped off an amazing season as Big Ten champions as Clark and the Hawkeyes’ eyes are solely squared on the NCAAW Tournament, with Selection Sunday being on March 12 and the first round tipping off on March 17.