Caitlin Clark’s excellence, from her signature 3-point shot to her unique skills as a “lead” passer, has captivated basketball fans from Maine to California. One question that often comes up is how her game will be taken to the next level. WNBA legend Sue Bird, who will appear in a wide-ranging 60-minute interview on “The Sports Media Podcast” on Thursday, said Clark can become a WNBA All-Star in his first year.
“I think if she reaches her potential, yeah, that’s realistic,” Bird said. “That’s not an attack on anyone in the WNBA, by the way. It’s going to be difficult, but I think she can do it. You’ve got to see what happens when they get there. You’re playing against adults now, which is Their careers. But I do think she has a chance to have a lot of success early on, and I think a lot of that is due to her long-range shooting. That’s her separator. You’re not very used to guarding on the outside. people.”
Bird went on to say that Clark is entering an era that helps complement her style of play. Another WNBA legend, Diana Taurasi, “could have played like Kaitlin does now,” Bird said, but she didn’t grow up to play like Clark does today.
Bird said WNBA players are not used to guarding shooters that far away. Bird will retire in 2022 after a 20-year WNBA career.
Clark has the option to return to Iowa next year for an extra year of eligibility due to the NCAA’s waiver for student-athletes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. But if she chooses to go pro and be drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever, “it would be a really good roster for her,” Bird said.
“She’ll be working with two very good post players (Aaliyah Boston and Nalissa Smith) who will complement her,” Bird continued. “There’s precedent for people coming in out of college and doing well, like Candace Parker, Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Diana Taura Players like Diana Taurasi. But she still has to come in and do that, and like all the players I just listed, she’s going to have some growing pains.”
deeper
Caitlin Clark’s 3,528-point journey: Iowa star’s biggest highlights from past 4 seasons
Bird spent time with Clark in Iowa City last December as part of an episode of her ESPN+ original series “Sue’s Places,” a 10-part college basketball travelogue. Produced with Omaha Productions and Words + Pictures, Bird travels across the country learning about the history and traditions of college basketball. (The “Clark” episode airs Feb. 14.) The fourth-ranked Hawkeyes will play No. 14 Indiana on Thursday night (8 p.m. ET, Peacocks).
When asked why Clark captured the imagination of the broader basketball public during her time at Iowa, Bird said it was a combination of her long-range shooting and becoming one of the faces of women’s college basketball during such an upward period. .
“She has two things that stand out the most, let’s start with her long-range shooting,” Bird said. “In comparisons between men’s and women’s basketball, the one thing that takes away from the obsession with dunks is the deep shot. If we want to call it the Hallmark 3, let’s call it that. Whatever the reason, especially men, they are Don’t hate it. There’s nothing to hate because it is what it is. So I think there’s a part of her game that people should cheer for. I guess that’s also fascinating, right? The way she shoots from long range is mesmerizing. Everybody. Interested in that. So that’s part of it.”
Bird added: “I think the other part is women’s basketball is going through a moment where it needs someone to work with. So Caitlin is in a unique position based on the year she was born and what she’s doing now in college. , can take advantage of this moment. There are other players in college basketball right now that you can get excited about. JuJu Watkins is shining at USC and will arguably end up being one of the best players of all time. I say this and Not casually. It’s because of the way she started her career.”
deeper
Caitlin Clark made history with her scoring record.Her greatness makes her unparalleled
Clark’s decision on whether to leave Iowa State has become a major debate among sports media and fans. Recently, former WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes said that prospects like Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese will need time to develop in the WNBA because it’s A league dominated by veterans.
When asked what she would do if she were Clark, Byrd didn’t hesitate.
“If I were Caitlin Clark, I would graduate from college,” Bird said.
Must read
(Photo: Morgan Engel/NCAA via Getty Images)
