Before the 2024 NFL Draft, former Iowa cornerback and now Philadelphia Eagle, Cooper DeJean, shared that NFL teams inquired whether he believed he could defeat Caitlin Clark, Iowa’s basketball phenom, in a one-on-one basketball game.
DeJean confidently felt he could win, a sentiment that sparked more backlash toward the NFL teams for posing the question than toward DeJean himself. Yet, everyone was waiting to hear from Caitlin Clark.
During an appearance on the “Up & Adams” show, DeJean clarified that Clark had responded to the controversy via text, playfully doubting his ability to win against her. “Caitlin is a special player, she’s done so much for women’s basketball and for the University of Iowa. I have nothing but respect for her. She texted back saying she doesn’t think I could beat her one-on-one. I let her have that… it would be fun, though,” DeJean commented.
Host Kay Adams chimed in, siding with Clark, which led DeJean to reassert his belief in his potential to win, recalling his prowess as a high school basketball player before he pivoted to football in college.
The debate remains a lively topic of conversation, though pursuing a real one-on-one game doesn’t seem beneficial as both DeJean and Clark focus on their burgeoning professional careers.
