Why Kaitlyn Clark is the best female athlete since Serena Williams

University of Iowa women’s basketball senior star Caitlin Clark has been a daunting prospect for her opponents this season, ranking first in the nation in scoring with 31.7 points, 7.7 assists and 7 rebounds per game. Clark, who hopes to return to the NCAA Final Four, headlines every game at Iowa State and brings a much-needed shine to women’s sports.

Clark is the athlete women’s sports fans have been waiting for. Her consistent dominance of the game and her performance that improves as the pressure increases are traits that will make her one of the best basketball players of all time.

Clark’s game is reminiscent of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry changing the game in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His shooting, combined with his aura, makes him a game-changer in the sport. Clark has the same combination that could make her the greatest women’s basketball player of all time.

Similar to Curry, Clark also has legendary shooting ability. She can shoot within 40 feet of the basket. It’s ridiculous that current college teams and future Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) teams have to guard Clark as soon as she crosses half court. She also has the potential to become the greatest women’s basketball player of all time. Determined to accomplish anything and never shining too brightly, Clark is the perfect role model for all young athletes who want to become stars.

An example of Clark’s calmness came during Iowa’s loss to LSU. LSU forward Angel Reese made “call meThe pose was posed in Clark’s face after the Tigers won the women’s national championship, and Clark maintained a blank stare. Her maturity was noticed because she was prone to talking back and defending herself, but she decided to stay cool and collected.

Clark’s stardom grabbed media attention in early 2022 when she became the fastest player in the Big Ten women’s basketball conference to reach 1,000 points (40 games) and the first man in Division I to reach 1,000 points consecutively Or women’s players. 30+ PPG, 10+ APG and 10+ RPG. Clark has been a legend since entering college basketball, averaging 26.6 points per game during her freshman season.

Clark ended his freshman season on a low note, as the Hawkeyes were defeated 92-72 by UConn in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Clark shot 33% from the field and had 21 points and five turnovers.

In his second year, Clark led the Hawkeyes to a 24-8 record and the Big Ten Conference Championship. The University of Iowa entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 2 seed, but lost to No. 10 seed Creighton University 64-62 in the second round.

The loss seemed to give Clark and the Hawkeyes some motivation as they head into the 2022-23 season with a chip on their shoulder. Iowa State was off to a 4-0 start heading into its game against Kansas State and ranked fourth nationally. They suffered their first loss against the Wildcats and began to struggle, losing two of their next four games.

Throughout Big Ten play, Iowa State has hovered just above No. 10 nationally as the conference has proven to be the most competitive in the nation. Iowa has wins over No. 2 Ohio State, No. 8 Maryland, and No. 2 Indiana, while also losing to Indiana and Maryland.

Like last season, Iowa made its way to the Big Ten Conference Tournament, with Clark leading the Hawkeyes to the conference title as the No. 2 seed in March Madness. Clark’s performance in the 2023 NCAA tournament became a springboard for national attention that changed his life and the game of basketball.

Iowa defeated Southeastern Louisiana 95-43 in the first round, but narrowly defeated the Bulldogs 74-66 against No. 10 seed Georgia. Iowa is back in the Sweet 16, having never won under Clark, but she turned the energy around and Iowa defeated sixth-seeded Colorado 87-77. The Hawkeyes defeated fifth-seeded Louisville to advance to Clark’s only Final Four to date.

Their Final Four matchup was a David versus Goliath matchup, with the Hawkeyes and Clark facing top-seeded South Carolina. The Gamecocks were the favorites in this game with a 36-0 record, but Clark and Iowa just couldn’t do it.

Clark sealed the win for Iowa, scoring 41 points and dishing out eight assists to lead the Hawkeyes to a 77-73 victory over the Gamecocks.

In the national championship, Iowa State faced off against ninth-seeded LSU in a high-profile matchup. LSU star forward Angel Reese’s matchup against Clark is must-see television.

Stars shined on the biggest stage, and NCAA ratings broke multiple records. The national championship averaged 9.9 million viewers, more than 100% of the previous year’s ratings. Other records include the Final Four average of 6.5 million viewers, the most-watched March Madness since 2009 and the most-watched regular season since the 2014-15 season.

Not only did ratings increase because of Clark, ticket prices also suffered. The women’s tournament starts slightly cheaper, with tickets starting at $150 for women and $218 for men. But the maximum price varies for each event, with the women’s event priced at $3,999 and the men’s event priced at $2,200.

Clark’s postseason performance didn’t suffer despite Reese and the Tigers’ 102-85 victory over Clark’s heroics. In six games, Clark averaged 31.8 points, 10 assists, 5.2 rebounds, shooting 58% from the field and 42.7% from three-point range.

After a rollercoaster season for Clark, she decided to stay at Iowa State for one more year rather than declare for the WNBA draft. This season, Clark’s average points, blocks, and steals per game all hit career highs, and his turnovers per game also hit a new low. The Hawkeyes are 18-2 on the season, coming off a loss to Ohio State on Sunday, January 21st. Iowa State hopes to cap off their historic season by winning a championship in Clark’s final season. For Clark, a championship would be the icing on the cake, as she has achieved many personal achievements without a championship.