Dawn Staley believes an Iowa win would make Caitlin Clark the 'GOAT'

Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes has become one of the iconic athletes playing college sports. Now, as she gets ready to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the National Championship Game, Clark has a chance to cement her legacy.

For South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, if Iowa were to win the game, she believes it would make Caitlin Clark the proverbial GOAT of women’s college basketball.

“Yeah, I was really good in college, never won a championship,” Dawn Staley said. “You got to win a championship. You’ve got to win a championship. That’s me personally. Like I had a great career. But it’s always, did you win a championship?”

Try Fubo for FREE today and don’t miss any of the action!

“Went to the Final Four three times. We never won. I do think — I agree with Stewy [Breanna Stewart] when it comes to winning the championship. We’re going to talk about GOATs, I think she’s the GOAT, to be able to win four National Championships and to be MVP. I think she was MVP all four times,” Staley said.

“If Caitlin wins the championship, she’s pretty damn good, yeah, like, she’s a GOAT. I mean, she’s really damn good regardless. But winning the championship would seal the deal.”

Of course, Dawn Staley is competing against Caitlin Clark in the championship. So, as she admitted, she hopes that Clark doesn’t get her championship win to try and be named the GOAT.

“I hope to the dear Lord she doesn’t,” Staley said.

This season, Caitlin Clark became the all-time scoring leader in college basketball, for both men and women. Her talent is undeniable. However, without a national championship, there would always be that knock on her Iowa career.

Caitlin Clark on matchup with South Carolina

Ahead of the National Championship Game, Caitlin Clark explained how excited she is to take on South Carolina.

“I think this matchup, you can’t ask for anything better. I think it speaks to the way women’s basketball has been tremendous on all levels all throughout the year. We know we have our hands full. Everybody around the country knows South Carolina has been the team all year. They’ve observed that. They’ve earned it. They’ve just been incredible,” Clark said.

“I’ve turned on the TV most of the times they’ve played because they’re so much fun to watch. The depth that they have, the way they rebound the ball, the way they’re shooting the ball. They’ve just been incredible.”