As the excitement builds around the 2024 Final Four, discussions about the legacy of Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark have taken center stage.
With her team set to face off against UConn in the national semifinal, one prominent figure has weighed in on what it takes for Clark to cement her status as one of the greatest players in women"s college basketball history.
Breanna Stewart, a four-time national champion with UConn and current star for the New York Liberty, emphasized the importance of winning a championship in defining greatness during an interview with Sirius XM"s Nicole Auerbach.
“Yeah. She does. I think so," Stewart remarked when asked if Clark needs a championship to solidify her legacy.
“Because you"re going to look 10 years back and you"re going to see all the records she"s broken and the points and stuff like that, but anybody knows, your goal when you play college basketball is to win a national championship. So, you need one."
"Does Caitlin Clark need a championship to be considered one of the greats in women's college basketball history?" – @NicoleAuerbach
"Yeah. She does." – @breannastewart
Live @WFinalFour Coverage: https://t.co/nV1komI7dD pic.twitter.com/ZkfXGfudRH
— College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) April 5, 2024
Despite being ranked as the No. 4 recruit in the 2020 class by ESPN, Clark chose to stay local and play for Iowa under head coach Lisa Bluder.
While other top college programs pursued Clark, including LSU, Stanford, and South Carolina, she opted to lead her hometown team.
UConn, a powerhouse in women"s college basketball with 11 national titles under Auriemma"s leadership, hasn"t captured a championship since Stewart departed from the team.
The Huskies have experienced disappointment in recent Final Four appearances and have been unable to reclaim the title-winning form of Stewart"s era.
Iowa, on the other hand, is enjoying a surge under Clark"s leadership, making its third-ever Final Four appearance and second in a row.
Clark"s impact on the team has been significant, with the Hawkeyes steadily improving their win total in each of her four seasons.
While Clark has only faced UConn twice in her career, losing both matchups, the upcoming clash presents an opportunity for her to not only advance in the tournament but also to further solidify her place in the annals of women"s college basketball history.
