The 2021 NCAA women’s basketball tournament saw many exciting moments, but one player, in particular, stood out among the rest. Caitlin Clark, a junior from Iowa, had a historic run of games that left basketball fans in awe. Clark entered the tournament with high expectations, with basketball greats Steph Curry and Sue Bird among those hyping her up. But Clark not only lived up to the expectations but surpassed them with flying colors.
Clark was on fire throughout the postseason for the Iowa Hawkeyes and dominated her opponents in every possible way. She scored a whopping 191 points during the tournament, including two back-to-back games with 41 points each, becoming the first player in the history of the women’s tournament to do so. Her scoring run broke any single-tournament March Madness tally – men’s or women’s. She also broke the women’s single tournament assist record with 60 dimes, demonstrating her brilliant and complete offensive game.
Clark’s all-around skills were also on display during her 41-point triple-double in the Elite Eight, the first in NCAA tournament history in the men’s or women’s competition. Clark was a force to be reckoned with on the court, and her performances attracted big-name fans throughout the world of sport. NBA legend LeBron James tweeted that Clark is “so COLD,” and two-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes shared his support for the guard. Magic Johnson said he wants to “give a lot of love to [the] superstar.”
Four-time NBA champion Curry also acknowledged Clark’s prowess from deep when speaking to ESPN before the tournament. “No shot is a bad shot when you can shoot it as well as she can,” said the NBA’s record three-point scorer. WNBA legend Bird also praised Clark’s incredible playmaking. « The relationship between her passing and her scoring is what will take her a long way, » Bird said.
While Clark will be disappointed with coming up short in the final, her run throughout the tournament will not be forgotten anytime soon. Iowa fans will be hoping their star player will be able to go again next year and lead the Hawkeyes to another deep run during March Madness – looking to go one step further and lift the title.
Overall, Clark’s incredible talent and skill on the court made her a standout player in the 2021 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. With one more year of eligibility left before she can join the WNBA, fans can expect to see more greatness from this young basketball phenom.
