Caitlin Clark appeared on national TV this week for a sit-down interview (
Image: Good Morning America)
In new comments made to clarify last week’s announcement, Caitlin Clark has described how difficult the decision was to enter the 2024 WNBA Draft and forego a fifth season at Iowa.
Clark, 22, confirmed she would turn pro rather than remain in college for another year. Her announcement came before the Hawkeyes’ final regular-season game against Ohio State. She is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, with the Indiana Fever picking first and planning to pair her with the reigning Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston.
The call came shortly amid a record-breaking stretch of games where Clark became the all-time leading scorer in Division I history across men’s and women’s basketball. She could have set more records during a fifth year via the NCAA COVID-19 waiver but opted against returning.
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She told “Good Morning America” in a national TV appearance this week.: “I think there’s pros and cons to both sides, and that’s what made the decision so difficult. 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 Senior Night.”
On the final regular-season game, a 93-83 win over Ohio State, Clark passed Pete Maravich to take the overall all-time NCAA scoring lead. Afterward, she told reporters: “We’re playing the No. 2 team in the country, on Senior Night, on our home court, you can’t really script it any better.
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Clark celebrates in confetti after the Senior Night win (
Image:
Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
“I honestly didn’t realize it until everybody started going wild. And then it was just cool to have so many people in the stands that appreciate women’s basketball, but they understand the history of it.”
Reflecting on reaching that record while representing Iowa, she explained: “This is the [only] place that I’ve really known all my life. And that was the main reason of coming to the University of Iowa is I wanted to play for my home state. I wanted to do something that really had never been done before.”
After achieving that and then some, she reiterates it is time to move on and turn pro. “I think it’s something I’m ready for, and that’s why I decided to make this move,” she added.
The confirmation is already causing excitement across Indiana, with Fever fans flocking to snap up tickets for the upcoming WNBA season. Clark acknowledged the response, noting: “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.
“To be honest, I don’t get nervous for games because this is fun for me. People love the long shots, people love the good passing, people love the fire.”
