On her own terms, Caitlin Clark is leaving Iowa to join the WNBA.
The Iowa standout, who helped shape what it means to be a star in today’s collegiate basketball environment, is going to pursue even greater things as a professional.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated during the summer, Caitlin Clark considered the choice that would determine her future basketball career while she was in an empty Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The standout player for the Iowa Hawkeyes may decide to leave Iowa City after her senior year. Alternatively, she could continue what had already been a historic, unique college career for a fifth and final season in 2024–2025, making her part of the last class to have this option in accordance with the NCAA’s pandemic policy.
Back in August, Clark stated that he was facing a “really, really hard decision.” “Either I could start my pro career, which has been my dream since I was a little kid, or I could return to something that I’ve really loved,” Clark said.
In the months that followed, she publicly stuck to her position. However, as the season progressed, at least externally, it became more difficult to envision Clark committing to that additional year at Iowa. What else was she expected to demonstrate in college? The response appeared to be “not much” as she completed another year of setting records, dominating the scoring charts, and selling out gyms. She was not particularly unfamiliar with that idea. Clark distinguished herself from the competition right away in her rookie campaign, scoring more points than any other player in the nation at that time. However, she now attracted a distinct kind of attention, a star with a strong gravitational pull of her own. It felt like an obvious outcome. Now was themoment for the
She officially announced that on Thursday. Clark declared that she will enter the WNBA draft in April as a professional, forgoing her fifth year of eligibility.
In a statement shared on social media, Clark said, “This season is far from over and we have a lot more goals to achieve, but it will be my last at Iowa.” “I am thrilled to be participating in the WNBA Draft in 2024.”
The fact that she is the draft’s presumed number one pick makes the word “presumptive” seem unnecessary. Since the Indiana Fever own the selection, Clark will remain in the Midwest, where she has lived her entire life and where the majority of her ardent fan base resides. Naturally, there are risks involved in making the transition from college to the professional ranks, even for a player with Clark’s level of talent across generations. But this is a fantastic opportunity. She will be joining a team that also includes Aliyah Boston, the first overall pick in the previous season, and they should make a great combination.It doesn’t seem unreasonable to anticipate Indiana’s first postseason appearance since 2016 with Clark in the backcourt feeding Boston in the post. Together, they could form an incredible offensive tandem. And the franchise should anticipate more advantages from selecting a player like Clark, who has proven to have a remarkable ability to create buzz, ignite debate, and captivate crowds, in addition to on-court success.
The fact that she is the draft’s presumed number one pick makes the word “presumptive” seem unnecessary. Since the Indiana Fever own the selection, Clark will remain in the Midwest, where she has lived her entire life and where the majority of her ardent fan base resides. Naturally, there are risks involved in making the transition from college to the professional ranks, even for a player with Clark’s level of talent across generations. But this is a fantastic opportunity. She will join a group that features the No. 1 pick, Aliyah Boston, and the two of them should be an ideal pairing. With Clark in the backcourt feeding Boston in the post, they could make for an elite offensive duo, and it doesn’t feel unreasonable to expect Indiana’s first playoff appearance since 2016. And on-court success is but one of the benefits the franchise should expect from drafting a player like Clark, who’s demonstrated a remarkable ability to generate hype, spark conversation and draw in audiences.
But all of that lies after the remaining college play in front of her. Clark’s announcement comes ahead of No. 6 Iowa’s senior day on Sunday, which is its last regular season game, a matchup against No. 2 Ohio State. (It’s also a chance to avenge the Hawkeyes’ overtime loss to the Buckeyes from January.) That will be followed by the Big Ten tournament and then by March Madness, where she will be chasing the one achievement she has not been able to capture at Iowa: a national championship. In declaring her plans now, Clark has turned off a torrent of speculation that would have otherwise followed her every step of the way over the next month.
