Women’s college basketball phenom Caitlin Clark is moving on to the WNBA.
The college basketball star from the University of Iowa, who set numerous NCAA records during her four years, was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft on Monday night.
Clark was followed in the draft by Stanford University’s Cameron Brink and the University of South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso.
Brink was selected with the second pick by the Los Angeles Sparks. She was named the 2024 NCAA women’s defensive player of the year. Cardoso was chosen with the third pick by the Chicago Sky. She was an integral part of the undefeated team’s national championship this year.
Clark said being drafted was a dream come true and the culmination of years of hard work.
“I got a little anxious there before the pick,” Clark said in an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe shortly after being drafted. “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was in second grade, and it’s taken a lot of hard work, a lot of ups and downs. But more than anything, just trying to soak it in.”
“I told my mom before this that I earned it, and that’s why I’m so proud of it,” Clark said.
Clark played at the University of Iowa from 2020 to 2024. She led her team to back-to-back Final Four appearances and two consecutive national championship games. She was the 2024 women’s college basketball national player of the year.
Clark finished her college basketball career as the sport’s all-time scoring leader. In honor of her accomplishments, University of Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz announced the school would retire Clark’s number, 22, during a ceremony last week at the college.
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This year’s women’s NCAA Tournament set a record for ratings. The bump in viewership has been largely attributed to viewers wanting to see Clark play.
The draft was held with people in attendance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. It was the first time the event hosted fans since 2016, according to ESPN. A thousand tickets for guests were set aside for this year’s draft. The event sold out in 15 minutes, various outlets reported.
