Caitlin Clark: The Future of Women’s Basketball?

Photo by (Joseph Cress/USA TODAY NETWORK)

Johnson County, Iowa (PSF) - Caitlin Clark has been the biggest name in college sports in all of 2023. Clark has had the run of a lifetime entering into March Madness, and has undoubtedly kept the ball rolling since. She’s caught the eye of numerous basketball fans all around the world, even the likes of some NBA Players — including Kevin Durant. Durant said in a report with the Washington Post, “When you couple her edge with her skills and her IQ, that’s what takes her over the top and makes her rare, she can pretty much do everything on the floor, score from any angle, shoot deep threes and create for her teammates. But she has that feisty side to her.” He continued, “She has that dog in her, as people call it. She’s trying to do everything for her team because she can’t lose.”

She’s proven everything Durant said along with what other players and fans had said, especially this past basketball season. Clark’s “take no prisoners” attitude was essential in her 2023 collegiate season, which led up to the final championship. Iowa took on LSU and fell short by 17 points as the Tigers won the national championship. The loss didn’t take away how hard Clark and her team fought throughout the whole season and postseason however.

On and off the court, Clark has been a star. Inspiring young girls in sports that it’s okay to show passion in emotion in their sport(s). Clark faced a lot of criticism during her basketball season, with critics saying she was “too emotional” or “had a bad attitude.” Clark clapped back at all haters saying in an interview with Just Women’s Sports: “I get mad, you have reactions that you don’t always love in the heat of battle. I’m full of passion no matter what I’m doing. I’m going to give you every single part of me. I’m going to give my heart to this. I want young girls to know that you can play with joy and passion.” And it showed! Caitlin isn’t the only female athlete that has faced this sort of backlash and criticism. Many other athletes, including her finals rival, Angel Reese, had to face the same type of attacks during her season as well.

Clark is a remarkable playing, defeating the odds on and off the court. With her college career almost coming to a close, fans are extremely excited to see where she lands next — preferably, the WNBA.