BREAKING: Caitlin Clark to enter the WNBA Draft
Women’s basketball fans across the country have waited the entire season to find out if this will be the final go-around for Caitlin Clark or if she would return for a fifth season in Iowa City. We finally have our answer. Caitlin Clark announced via Twitter on Thursday that she will forego her final year of eligibility and enter the 2024 WNBA Draft, where she is expected to go #1 overall to the Indiana Fever. Clark will go through Senior Day festivities on Sunday.
“While the season is far from over and we have a lot more goals to achieve, it will be my last one at Iowa. I am excited to be entering the 2024 WNBA Draft,” said Clark via Twitter. “It is impossible to fully express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me during my time at Iowa – my teammates, who made the last four years the best; my coaches, trainers, and staff who always let me be me; Hawkeyes fans who filled Carver every night; and everyone who came out to support us across the country, especially the young kids.”
“Most importantly, none of this would have been possible without my family and friends who have been by my side through it all. Because of all of you, my dreams came true.”
With just one regular season game remaining on Sunday against the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes, Caitlin has helped the Hawkeyes to a 25-4 overall record. That is their best start 29-game start since the 1995-96 season (26-3). She leads the country in points (933), assists (251), made field goals (307) and three-pointers (156). Back on February 15th against Michigan, Clark passed former Washington guard Kelsey Plum for the NCAA all-time scoring record and finished with a career-high 49 points. Then on Wednesday against Minnesota, she passed former Kansas guard Lynette Woodard for the AIAW/NCAA all-time scoring record.
“I’m very grateful. I am very thankful to be surrounded by so many people that have been my foundation in everything that I’ve done since I was a young little girl,” said Caitlin after she broke the NCAA scoring record. “I’m lucky. My teammates, I’m so thankful, they let me be me and I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for them.”
Why she made the right decision…
Obviously every single Iowa fan would have loved for Caitlin to come back for one more season, but this feels like right decision on several levels. What more does she have to prove on the court at Iowa? She made a Final Four, broke Iowa, Big Ten and NCAA all-time scoring records, won National Player of the Year (probably again this year) and has helped women’s basketball soar to new heights with viewership. There isn’t much more she can do to add on to her legacy at Iowa.
On top of that, this season, we already saw some of the negative sides to her being the most popular player in college sports. There are people that dislike her and think she is talked about too much. That was apparent after the Ohio State court storm incident when many claimed she flopped and tried to sell an injury. Negative comments also get fired up when she has an off night or the Hawkeyes lose. Although the recent comments by Sheryl Swopes about Caitlin being a fifth-year player were untrue, it was a sneak peak into what would happen if she did come back for another season. Many would claim that her records need an asteriks by them. Right now, all of her current records have been broken in less than four years.
Finally, Caitlin has NIL deals with Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, Hy-Vee, Topps and many others. Those deals will follow her to the WNBA and rather than being considered “NIL”, they will just be endorsement deals. Contrary to popular belief, she will make just as much, if not more money in the WNBA when you combine everything together.
What this means for the Hawkeyes heading into 2024-25…
It really is the end of an era for Iowa Women’s Basketball. With Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall departing, no starters from the 14-20-22-24-25 lineup that started 92 games together will be back. Add in Molly Davis and the Hawkeyes will have a new look next season.
Iowa is set to return Hannah Stuelke, Syd Affolter, Kylie Feuerbach, Taylor McCabe and Addi O’Grady, but that group is missing a point guard. With incoming freshman Aaliyah Guyton tearing her ACL back in December, the job could go another incoming freshman, Taylor Stremlow. Or, maybe Lisa Bluder opts to find a transfer at point guard to fill the gap for a year, while her freshman get a year to adjust to college. One thing is certain. As soon as the buzzer sounds for the Hawkeyes final game, the clock will start on a very interesting offseason in Iowa City.
