“You are one of the GOATs”: Dawn Staley hails Caitlin Clark after South Carolina’s NCAA Championship win over Iowa

After the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks, Caitlin Clark stared into nothingness as her dejected visage tried to process the failure she was handed. She snapped back into reality and then waved goodbye to the crowd and walked to the back, ending her Iowa career on a sour note.

But the loss in the final did not hurt the legacy she built in a relatively short time. Her unmatched prowess on the court not only fetched her plaudits, but also elevated the women’s game like never before. Carolina HC, Dawn Staley was in accord with the sentiment and gave Caitlin Clark her flowers following a pulsating game of March Madness.

Dawn Staley lauds Caitlin Clark

Dawn Staley, after laying her hands on the NCAA championship trophy, lauded the women’s college basketball sensation, Caitlin Clark, while also praising her team.

The South Carolina HC took a moment to say, “I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport. She carried a heavy load for our sport… She’s gonna lift that league [WNBA] up… You are one of the GOATs of our game and we appreciate you.”

The Iowa star Caitlin showcased outstanding performances in the tournament, establishing her dominance over the reigning champion LSU and her dream team, UConn. Even after coming agonizingly close to the championship, the only major accolade that was missing from her cabinet, the 6-foot guard couldn’t acquire it.

Despite contributing 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, Clark couldn’t stop the Hawkeyes from losing 87-75 to the Gamecocks, who had a flawless 38-0 record. The gifted genius might not have won the trophy but won many hearts, including Staley’s.

The Carolina HC predicted that Clark would do wonders in the WNBA and inspire the next generation to follow in her footsteps.

Caitlin Clark opens up about inspiring next generation

Caitlin Clark has been called an inspiration by many for her exceptional scoring skills, which helped her receive praise from the big names of the NBA.

In the postgame interview, the 22-year-old said, “People will probably remember our two Final Fours and things like that. But people aren’t gonna remember every single win or every single loss.” Clark further added, “I think they’re just gonna remember the moments that they shared at one of our games. Or watching on TV. Or how excited their young daughter or son got about watching women’s basketball. I think that’s pretty cool. Those are the things that mean the most to me.”

After being the top scorer of NCAA women’s and men’s basketball, Clark has been given an enormous offer to play in the Big 3 tournament as the first woman player to play with the men, which will help her break more barriers on the way to further greatness.

After losing her final chance to win the NCAA tournament, the guard will be heading toward conquering the WNBA, hoping to bring the big one home and climb the staircase of excellence ever higher.