Caitlin Clark does not want to think about it. Or doesn’t want to discuss it. That will happen later. Possibly much later.
Yes, the Iowa Star notices the filled stands. When she hits another 3-pointer from the logo, there is a loud cheer from the audience. She notices the throng of media around her. It’s hardly necessary to mention that her name has been trending pretty much everywhere for the past four months, which has revolutionized her life and, in some ways, her sport.
The truth is that the leading all-time scorer in NCAA Division I history foresaw some of this. Clark’s sole goal a year ago, following a heartbreaking loss to LSU in the national championship game, was to find a path back.
One paradigm-shifting season later, that moment arrived on Sunday.
And, while it ended in the same way as last year’s final against LSU — with Clark and the Hawkeyes walking off the court amid confetti that fell for others as South Carolina celebrated its second title in three years — she attempted to keep things in perspective.
Yes, she wanted to win. Badly. And she played like it, especially in the first quarter, when she scored 18 points, setting an NCAA finals record. Nonetheless, the deep and persistent Gamecocks wore Clark and the Hawkeyes down. She completed with 30 in total before bailing out with 20 seconds remaining, prompting a long, loud applause and a hug from coach Lisa Bluder.
There were no tears. Not publicly, anyhow. Instead, there was gratitude for a wonderful journey that few believed feasible when she arrived on campus four years ago.
“The emotions will definitely strike me over the next couple of days,” Clark stated. “I don’t have much time to hang around sulking and becoming unhappy. I don’t believe that is what I’m about either. Yeah, I’m disappointed we lost this game, but I’m also really proud of myself, my teammates, and our program. “There is a lot to be proud of.”
