Caitlin Clark initially committed to play for Notre Dame before having a change of heart and decided to play for Iowa.
NCAA’s all-time leading scorer Caitlin Clark admitted that she had pre-call fright before deciding to play for the Iowa Hawkeyes over Notre Dame.
The 22-year-old said in an interview with ABC’s Full Court Press that she initially committed to the Fighting Irish women’s basketball program before eventually choosing to play with the Hawkeyes.
Clark recalled fearing how her parents and Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw would react to her sudden change of heart.
“I just knew like — something wasn’t sitting right with me. So, I tell my parents, and I’m like, ‘I think I’m gonna switch to Iowa.’ Which was hard, like, I was scared.’
“I’m 17 years old and now I have to call Coach McGraw and tell her that I’m not coming. I remember sitting in my bed, and I’m like sweating. I’m like, ‘Oh, this is so bad.’ But I really loved the idea of being close to home,” Clark said.
The player who would break Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA Division I scoring record encompassing all genders added that she was driven to play for the Fighting Irish because of religion and her admiration for McGraw.
“It’s a lot of pressure having to choose and decide where you’re going to spend four years of your life.
“We’re Catholic and every person, like, idolizes Notre Dame. Like, that’s just what you do. I told Muffet McGraw, one of the greatest coaches of all time, that I’m gonna play for her,” she said.
Iowa coach celebrates Caitlin Clark’s decision to commit to the Hawkeyes
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder (left) talks to Caitlin Clark (right) in one of the team’s practices.
Clark’s decision to decommit to Notre Dame for Iowa made coach Lisa Bluder the happiest person in the world.
The 63-year-old bench tactician celebrated with her husband in a restaurant when Clark called her and said that she was committing to play for the Hawkeyes.
“I was at a restaurant eating with my husband. When she called, I stepped outside to take the phone call. I tried to hold it down a little bit, but then I went back in and we ordered a bottle of champagne,” Bluder said.
The change of heart seemed to have benefitted Clark and Iowa, as she went on to help the Hawkeyes gain back-to-back national championship appearances and changed the trajectory of women’s basketball in the collegiate ranks.
Clark, who was picked No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Draft, is setting her sights on bringing her talents to the next level.
After scoring 21 points in a loss to the Dallas Wings, Clark had a fine outing in the Fever’s final preseason game against the Atlanta Dream on Friday,
She tallied 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, eight rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes for Indiana, who beat the Dream, 83-80.
Clark will play her first WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m.,ET with ESPN+ and ESPN2 covering the game live.
News
VIDEO: Caitlin Clark’s teammate at Indiana pours water on Caitlin Clark.(VIDEO).
Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever teammates rewarded her with a hysterical celebration following her triple-double in Saturday’s win over the New York Liberty. In the Fever’s 83-78 victory, the first overall pick of 2024 finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists….
WOW??? Revealing the reason why Caitlin Clark was removed from the US team.
Jun 1, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots a free throw against the Chicago Sky during a game at Grainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Michelle Pemberton/INDIANAPOLIS STAR-USA TODAY Sports / INDIANAPOLIS STAR-USA TODAY Sports Indiana Fever…
WOW!!! Angel Reese special greetings: My first child.
Angel Reese is enjoying her time in Chicago, both on and off the court. She recently had an outstanding homecoming game, where she helped the Chicago Sky secure a Commissioner Cup victory over the Washington Mystics. The games was significant for Reese, as she began…
Geno Auriemma 11-time national champion: He thinks fans are “delusional” with unrealistic expectations about Caitlin Clark.
UConn women’s basketball coach and 11-time national champion Geno Auriemma didn’t hold back on his thoughts of Caitlin Clark. He says the rookie has been set up for failure because of a “delusional” fanbase with unrealistic expectations. UConn women’s basketball…
OH MY GOD?? WNBA fans were stunned when Caitlin Clark fell behind Sparks Center in ESPN’s rookie rankings.
Fans react to ESPN’s WNBA rookie rankings placing Caitlin Clark at sixth (Cameron Brink’s image via her Instagram) The WNBA’s fans are up in arms after ESPN ranked Caitlin Clark below five other rookies in their first rookie ladder. LA…
Video of Angel Reese bad-mouthing Caitlin Clark is going viral
The rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark is well known to everyone, and a recent video fuels the rivalry even more, but is the video real? Let’s read about it. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark The Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese…
End of content
No more pages to load