Caitlin Clark: The Most Phenomenal Basketball Player in America and What we have Left of the March Madness I. The Iowa Head Coach Lisa Bluder
It has already been a historic March Madness for Iowa and LSU, with both reaching the NCAA National Championship game for the first time in school history.
And along the way, the achievements of Iowa’s star player Caitlin Clark have reached beyond the realms of historic and become almost superhuman as she has amassed a towering pile of record-breaking feats.
Even by the high standards of the round, Clark’s 41 points in Iowa’s Final Four win over South Carolina was the highest ever in that round.
“I think she’s the most phenomenal basketball player in America. I just don’t think there’s anybody like her,” Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder told reporters after her team sealed its spot in the final.
The NBA’s record three-point scorer explained that they know everything about her. “But she does a great job of scoring at a high level but also being a playmaker and distributor.”
“We know that’s all we have left of our season. There is only one left with the two seniors, who have given their heart and soul to this program.
Angelica Clark at LSU: The First NCAA Player with 100 Points, 70 Rebound, 10 Blocks and 10 Steps in a Single Tournament
Angel Reese of LSU became the first player in the history of college basketball to have 100 points, 70 Rebound, 10 Blocks and 10Steals in a single NCAA tournament.
Like Iowa, LSU upset a No.1 seed in the Final Four on its route to the final, embarking on an epic comeback after trailing by nine points at the beginning of the fourth quarter to secure its spot.
As well as their own experiences of winning tight games this tournament, the LSU can count on the nous of head coach Kim Mulkey, who has already won three national championships at Baylor in 2005, 2012, 2019, and became just the second coach to lead two different programs to the national championship game.
She said after the LSU victory that she came home for many reasons. There is one goal: to hang a championship banner in the PMAC. Do you think you’re going to do something like this in two years?
While the LSUTigers took home their first ever NCAA men’s basketball championship there was one player who stole the show.
Yet despite the weight on her shoulders, Clark not only lived up the expectations, but surpassed what many were predicting during a historic run of games.
The 21-year-old scored an incredible 191 points throughout the tournament, including dropping 41 points in back-to-back games – the first time someone has had consecutive 40-point games in the history of the women’s tournament.
Her eight three-pointers in the championship game broke another record, but it wasn’t enough for Iowa to win the tournament.
Not only did the Naismith Women’s Player of the Year break the single tournament scoring record, Clark was dishing out dimes for fun throughout March Madness.
The Iowa Hawkeyes star: An example for the young kids in the state of Iowa, and a legacy for the future of their sport
The Hawkeyes star said: “I think the main thing is it is really, really special.” I don’t think it’s going to set in for me for quite some time.
I hope to have a big impact on the young kids and people in the state of Iowa, and I want my legacy to be an example for them. I hope the team brought them a lot of joy.
Clark stated: “I think we have a lot to be proud of, even though we came up one win short.” All you have to do is dream and you can be in those moments.
Two-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes and Magic Johnson both support Clark, with the former saying he wants to give the guard a lot of love.
WNBA legend Bird also praised Clark’s incredible playmaking, with the 13-time WNBA All-Star saying: “The relationship between her passing and her scoring is what will take her a long way.
“You obviously can’t leave her open. So the closer you are to her gives her more opportunity to create for herself and use that space to create for others.”
The fans of Iowa would like to see their star player play again next season and lead the Hawkeyes to another deep run in the March Madness tournament, and possibly a chance to win the title.