Caitlin Clark’s influence on women’s college basketball extends far beyond the borders of Iowa, the Big Ten, and even the United States—literally.
This was made evident during the conference tournament in Minneapolis on Friday, where she found herself speechless at the magnitude of her impact.
The No. 2-seed Iowa Hawkeyes dominated the No. 7-seed Penn State Nittany Lions in the quarterfinals, clinching a 33-point victory. In yet another display of her prowess, Clark shattered another record during the game. Her 163rd three-pointer of the year set the Division I NCAA record for most triples in a single season, surpassing the previous mark shared by Steph Curry and former Liberty guard Darius McGhee.
Despite a statistical downturn in her performance—shooting just 26.3% from the field and making only two of 14 shots from beyond the arc—Clark’s focus on facilitating for her teammates underscored her exceptionalism. Even on what could be considered her “worst” game of the year, she prioritized distributing the ball to ensure her teammates excelled—a testament to her selflessness and versatility.
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Clark’s unparalleled greatness generates an unprecedented level of buzz around the sport, with no player in history commanding such star power, not even Sabrian Ionescu. Yet, even she was taken aback by the breadth of her influence when a reporter from France posed a question about her international impact during her time in Minnesota. Her response hinted at her desire to represent the U.S. National Team at the Olympics in Paris—an aspiration that speaks volumes about her ambition and global reach.
While there may be no immediate need to bring Clark overseas this summer, given her status as the greatest scorer in women’s college basketball history, her inclusion would undoubtedly elevate the team’s offensive prowess and make the games must-watch events. However, securing the gold medal remains the ultimate priority.
Regardless, the fact that Clark is making waves in France as a player for Iowa is nothing short of surreal, underscoring the magnitude of her influence on the global stage.
