Caitlin Clark has opened up about whether she considers herself the GOAT in women’s college basketball as she aims to make history in her final college game, but Dawn Staley says the Iowa star must win a championship to be considered the greatest ever.
Speaking to reporters before Sunday’s championship game in Cleveland, Ohio, Clark didn’t necessarily agree with the South Carolina Gamecocks head coach, seeing her influence on the game as a much better way to measure her impact than the championships and records themselves. .
Clark said during a press conference over the weekend: “I’ve played basketball at this university for four years, and that comes down to two games and that depends on whether or not I’m proud of myself and the way I do.” I’ve behaved and I’m proud of the way I’ve impacted people in their lives, I don’t think that’s a fair assessment.
“I don’t want my legacy to be, ‘Oh, Caitlin won X amount of games,’ or ‘Caitlin scored X amount of points,'” she further noted. I hope that it is the boys and girls who feel inspired to practice this sport or dream of doing what they want in their lives.
“For it to be reduced to 40 minutes and for me to validate myself in 40 minutes, I don’t think that’s a fair assessment.”
Caitlin Clark is just one NCAA title away from cementing her place in women’s college basketball
Dawn Staley says Clark won’t be a GOAT if he doesn’t beat his South Carolina team on Sunday
Staley, who made three Final Four appearances with Virginia from 1989-92, knows the pressure that comes with needing to win a championship to be remembered forever. At least, in the world of sports. She had a notable collegiate career at Virginia, reaching three Final Fours, winning two Player of the Year awards and setting the NCAA steals record at the time.
“I was really good in college, I never won a championship,” Staley recalled, adding, “You have to win a championship.” That’s me personally. I had a great career. But it’s always, did you win a championship?
The Gamecocks head coach, who is seeking her third national title, addressed recent comments made by UConn forward Breanna Stewart with SiriusXM Radio, in which she said Clark needed to win a championship to be among the college greats .
Stewart is a four-time NCAA champion with the Huskies (2013-2016) and is widely considered one of the best, if not the best, basketball player of all time.
“I agree with Stewie when it comes to winning the championship,” Staley said. ‘Let’s talk about GOATS. I think she is the GOAT, to be able to win four national championships and be MVP. I think she was MVP all four times.”
Staley added that she agreed with Breanna Stewart to win titles to be considered a great
Turning the conversation back to Clark, who became the all-time NCAA Division I men’s and women’s scoring leader this season and won several personal awards the past two years, Staley admitted that if the 22-year-old point guard years the team defeats her, as it did last year in the national semifinals, on Sunday, then it will be considered one of the greats.
Last season, Clark scored 41 points against South Carolina to advance to the national championship game, only to lose to Angel Reese’s LSU.
‘If Caitlin wins the championship, she will be very good, yes, like she is a GOAT. I mean she’s really really good anyway. But winning the championship would seal the deal. I hope to God she’s not like that,” Staley said.
As for what it means for women’s basketball to have a rematch between South Carolina and Iowa in this year’s title game, Staley said, “It’s a monumental game for our sport.”
‘We are very lucky to be part of this. We will witness firsthand the legacy of Catilin Clark. You look at her. You prepare for it. You can’t help but really love how she analyzes the game. You love how it is executed. Her game is simple but powerful. How do you defend fundamental basketball with fundamental offense and defense? You can not. She will always win.
Caitlin Clark dropped 41 points on the Gamecocks in last year’s Final Four showdown in Dallas.
“So you have to show her different looks so she doesn’t conform and tear you apart,” Staley continued. But we also have to play our side of the ball. We have to defend. We have to put some points on the scoreboard. I hope it is the most watched game. I have been part of witnessing the most watched game from the outside. Hopefully it will be fun to be a part of.”
Clark said he understands that being in the spotlight means there is more discussion about his legacy. But she prefers to stay on the sidelines as she prepares for her last game as an Iowa Hawkeye before moving on to the WNBA.
“When you’re in the spotlight like this, there’s going to be a million different opinions about you,” he said. No matter how many people love you, there will be people who don’t like you. That is the case for all professional athletes, male or female, who play at the highest level.
“I think what I’ve been able to do throughout my career is focus on the opinions of the people within our locker room. That’s what really matters to me, the people I love to death, the people who have supported me every step of the way.” second of my career, they have been the ones who have believed more than anyone else.