Caitlin Clark of Iowa set numerous records and won numerous trophies despite her team’s loss to LSU in the national championship game on Sunday.
On Tuesday, she received the John R. Wooden Women’s Player of the Year Award on SportsCenter’s “Outside the Lines.” This comes after she was already recognized as the Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year, the AP Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, and the winner of the Wade Trophy this season.
On the program, she remarked, “This is a huge honor, this is one of the most prestigious, obviously all of these prizes are a major deal.” A true icon, Coach Wooden. To receive an award bearing his name is a tremendous honor.
During the session, Clark discussed her season, including her rivalry with LSU’s Angel Reese and First Lady Jill Biden’s invitation to the White House.
Caitlin Clark backs Angel Reese and defends the LSU player’s taunt.
While playing for the national title, Reese made the “You can’t see me” gesture at Clark. In the Final Eight, Clark made the same gesture of mockery toward the Louisville Cardinals. John Cena commended the Iowa star for utilizing his trademark celebration. Nonetheless, Reese was criticized for her online behavior, dubbed “classless” among other insults.
Caitlin Clark said that she “honestly didn’t notice (Reese’s taunt) as the game was going on,” and she also defended Reese, who was voted Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, saying that it was unfair to condemn him because the game’s intensity and passion are what draw viewers. The national championship game had the largest television audience ever for a women’s collegiate basketball game, with an average of 9.9 million viewers tuning in to ABC’s coverage.
The most important thing is that we’re all competitive, I believe. We all express our feelings in unique ways. Angel is a fantastic, fantastic player. I hold her in the highest esteem. Her ability to score and get offensive rebounds blows my mind.
A lot of people have blamed racism for the different responses. As for race, Clark is white and Reese is black.
Caitlin Clark stated, “No matter how this turns up, she should never be chastised for what she accomplished.” I’m simply a competitor, and she was a competitor, too. Everyone entered the competition with the expectation that there might be some trash-talking. Angel and I aren’t the only ones who feel she shouldn’t be criticized.
According to Caitlin Clark, the White House visit should only involve LSU.
Caitlin Clark also commented on the proposal by First Lady Jill Biden to host the national champion Tigers and runner-up Hawkeyes at the White House. It is customary for only the winner to pay a state visit to the President.
They don’t send runners-up to the White House very often,” she said. For them, I think LSU should savor the occasion. Well deserved, congrats to them! But maybe I can visit the White House on my terms.
Her press secretary then clarified that Biden had retracted her idea and that her words had been made “to celebrate the spectacular moment and all women athletes.”
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At the national championship in Dallas, First Lady Clark thanked the numerous celebrities and legends of the game, including Seimone Augustus, a four-time WNBA champion and LSU alumni, and Arike Ogunbowale, a WNBA All-Star, and the 2018 collegiate national champion.
It’s just my luck that there were some cool folks at the championship game on Sunday night,” Clark remarked. The presence of such desirable individuals at a women’s basketball game is what the sport currently needs. I know that the First Lady was cheering for both teams and believed in the power of women’s basketball because she was there.
Caitlin Clark looks back on season 2022/23
Caitlin Clark admitted that she needs some time to recover from the “whirlwind” of March Madness.
Clark is still not ready to move on from the Hawkeyes, where she will play as a junior next season and try to return to the Final Four.
She acknowledged that they had played the maximum number of games allowed, but admitted, “I’m really kind of sorry it’s done.”
Caitlin Clark reacts to Iowa’s title loss vs. LSU (Video) Watch Now