As the most promising day in WNBA history arrives, America's cultural spotlight shifts to the female athlete in team sports, and the potential she brings to elevate basketball and all women's sports to the status they currently have. and is shining brighter than ever. I've never been there.
But that bright, sometimes harsh glare of light wasn't just limited to the magical Caitlin Clarke. In recent weeks, the magazine has focused on athletes who came before her, some of whom have strangely struggled to accept and cope with her fame, despite benefitting greatly from it. Some players seem to be struggling with this.
As Clark led Iowa to its second consecutive NCAA final, where it lost to undefeated national champion South Carolina and became the first time in history to beat the men in the ratings, some of the biggest names in her sport He was talking about her. . Of course it was. Why didn't you do that? Everyone wanted to know what they thought of this generation of talent, this familiar name, this college record breaker, especially superstars like Diana Taurasi and Brianna Stewart.
Stewart, a four-time NCAA champion, two-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist at UConn, was asked on SiriusXM radio before the Final Four game.
“Does Caitlin Clark need a championship to be considered one of the greatest players in women's college basketball history?”
What a great layup this was for Stewart. The question wasn't whether Clark needed a championship to become the greatest GOAT of all time. No, the questions were much broader and easier to answer. Clark was “one of the greats?”
There are dozens of them and you can use as many as you want, the more the merrier. One would think that Clark is one of the most prolific point scorers, male or female, in NCAA Division I basketball history.
Not for Stewart.
“Yeah, she needs (the championship),” Stewart said calmly, without hesitation. “I think so. Because if you look back 10 years ago and you look at all the records that she broke and points and things like that, you know that when you play college basketball, your goal is to win a national championship.” Everyone knows that. That's why you need it.”
Needless to say, it generated some news, but not in a good way for the 29-year-old Stewart. Her answer was completely bizarre, as if she didn't want to admit that this young woman, more than seven years her junior, was about to change the entire way her people viewed her sport. was. Stewart instead chose to keep the focus firmly on her UConn roots, and she was lucky enough to play on a roster full of future WNBA players and win those four titles. It should be noted that Clark played on a roster full of future non-WNBA players other than her and somehow led Iowa to its second consecutive NCAA final.
Of course, it's Stewart's right to say what she said, and brutal honesty is always notable. But I was intrigued, so last week I tried to find out what was going on. I asked Stewart's agent, Lindsay Colas, several times if I could speak to Stewart, but to no avail. Finally, at the chorus' suggestion, I texted her two questions to send to Stewart. The chorus said Stewart was out of the country.
my question:
1. Knowing Caitlin Clark's incredible accomplishments in college and the unprecedented and historic impact she has had on women's basketball, it takes a lot for her to earn the title “One of the Greatest Players.” Do you regret your own comment that you had to win? It wasn't about being the GOAT. It was “one of the greats” that included dozens, even hundreds.
2. If he had gone to Syracuse or another school like Iowa instead of UConn, which has so many future WNBA players among his teammates, would he have been able to lead that team to a second consecutive NCAA final?
Stewart's response came in a text message from Corus to me Thursday night.
“Kaitlyn is a star and we are excited to welcome her to the WNBA. What she has accomplished on and off the court is undoubtedly impressive.”
Stewart and fellow former college con superstar Diana Taurasi, 41, nearly 20 years older than the 22-year-old Clark, joined in the chorus of less-than-flattering comments about Clark.
On an ESPN television show with fellow college icon Sue Bird, the question was asked who would be the No. 1 draft pick if he were to form a WNBA team. Clark or Paige Backers, a college student with no plans to attend. This year's draft.
After Bird drafted Clark — “the fan energy behind Caitlin is going to be a game-changer for the WNBA franchise” — it was Taurasi's turn. She was vintage Taurasi, brash and unyielding.
“Next question please ask Paige.”
The bird gave chase.
“So if you were the No. 1 pick this year, would you take Paige instead of Kaitlyn?”
“absolutely.”
There was another Taurasi moment on ESPN after Iowa State defeated Yukon in the national semifinals. Asked about the addition of rookies like Clark and South Carolina's Camila Cardoso to the league, Taurasi was happy to give them a proverbial quick kick in the shin.
“Reality sets in,” she said. “There's a level to this, and that's what life is about, and we've all been through it. …You look superhuman playing against an 18-year-old, but a grown woman who's been playing professional basketball for many years. will also come with you.”
Those who know Taurasi say this is who she is: tough, sassy, and always a force to be reckoned with. The problem for Taurasi, if she cares about this at all, is all the new eyeballs being brought into the match by Clark for the first time. Millions of new women's basketball fans aren't necessarily familiar with Taurasi, but they certainly should be by now.
Through Coras, who is also Taurasi's agent, I reached out to Taurasi for comment or for any clues to finding positive or complimentary quotes or sound bites from Taurasi about Clark during Final Four weekend.
There was no reply.
Clark continually praises the women who came before her, whether it was in the Final Four or throughout her young career, thanking them for being role models and heroes to young girls and women like her. She did it again in her wonderfully entertaining “Saturday Night Live” appearance over the weekend. My guess is that Clark will spend the rest of her life honoring and appreciating those who came before her and continuing to help and encourage those who came after her.
American Olympic team information
In their Final Four comments, Stewart and Taurasi opened up a very revealing window into what they think about Clark. This idea could have very public implications if Clark becomes one of his Olympic teammates this summer.
The calls for Clark to be on the U.S. team have already made sense to me in many ways, big and small, and they're only getting louder. Three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie told ESPN. We shouldn't leave the country without her. She's a true baseball player. She has no doubt that she is already one of the best players in the world. ”
Nevertheless, the undercurrent is real and has opened some eyes to the U.S. Olympic movement. If Clark doesn't make the Olympic team, there will undoubtedly be some serious questions asked about the role in this whole thing – hostility? envy? — played with that decision.
Women's sports still need to catch up.
The national debate this has sparked is interesting. As some have said, this is exactly how old-school newcomers treat newcomers in men's sports, so why not in women's sports? Isn't this a sign that women's sports have grown to the point where older players can abuse younger players as if it's some sort of goal or measure of progress?
Now, anyone who thinks that men's and women's sports currently have the same place in our society has clearly paid no attention to the vast differences in funding, sponsorship, coverage, and attention between men's and women's sports to date. Is not … Today is a great day for women's sports – until tomorrow. But women's sports still have a lot of catching up to do, which compounds the resentment against a great sport that has been (and likely will be) coming up for a long time.
Nifty ribs? of course. However, if you have anything remotely positive to say about Stewart or Taurasi's Final Four comments, please point them out.
WNBA teams are already preparing for Caitlin Clark's appearance
But no matter how chill Stewart and Taurasi want to play, WNBA teams now know their biggest draw, their meal ticket, is Clark. Earlier this month, the Las Vegas Aces moved their July 2 home game against Indiana from a 12,000-seat arena to a 20,000-seat venue, but Clark hasn't even been drafted by the Fever yet.
Another interesting development occurred on social media the other day with Taurasi's team, the Phoenix Mercury. posted a promo for the June 30 home game against Indiana Taurasi and another player are shown in silhouette wearing No. 22, as the draft has not yet taken place.
It said, “Goat vs. Luke.”
Taurasi may not like it, but even her team knows they absolutely need Caitlin Clark to promote her.
