Fever select Caitlin Clark with No. 1 overall pick

NEW YORK — There was no surprise with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.

Caitlin Clark was, of course, the name called by the Indiana Fever Monday night at the Brooklyn Academy of Music just as everyone predicted and expected.

In her four seasons at Iowa, Clark broke 45 total records between Big Ten play, the NCAA overall and Tournament play. Clark averaged 31.6 points, 8.9 assists and 7.4 rebounds her senior year and led the Hawkeyes to their second straight NCAA Title game. Most notable was the history Clark made night after night, whether on the court or with the record-breaking number of fans who showed up to see her play.

On Feb. 16, Clark passed Aces guard Kelsey Plum (3,527) to move into first place on the NCAA women’s DI scoring list with her 3,528th career point. Less than two weeks later, she passed Lynette Woodard (3,649) for the major-college women’s basketball scoring record with her 3,650th career point. She passed Pete Maravich (3,667) to set a new NCAA all-time scoring record on March 3.

She finished her college career with 3,951 points scored in 139 games over four years.

Questions surround how Clark will translate at the professional level.

Will she be encouraged by Fever coach Christie Sides to shoot logo threes?

Will she even be able to get them off against WNBA-caliber defenders?

Will her star power translate to the professional level?

The first two questions can only be answered in time. The last one, however, is a resounding yes and it’s already been proven.

The WNBA released it’s national broadcast schedule and the Fever earned the most national broadcasts over the Aces and the New York Liberty despite finishing 10th in league standings last year. Tickets for Fever games at venues across the country are being sold at a higher price. The Aces opted to move their July 2 game against Clark and the Fever to T-Mobile Arena, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 fans. The Mercury have been marketing their July 30 game against the Fever as “The GOAT vs. The Rook” since last week.

The graphic is a photo of Diana Taurasi and Clark’s silhouette.

Monday night marked Clark’s official start back at zero in the record books. When the WNBA season tips off on May 14 — the Fever open the season against the Connecticut Sun at 7 p.m. — the entire league is going to be chopping at the bit to give Clark a proper welcome to the league moment.

More Caitlin Clark

Chicago Sky and WNBA

Caitlin Clark's impact on WNBA is already apparent

With the Indiana Fever anticipating Clark as their No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft, the team will have 36 of their 40 games featured on national broadcasts or by the league’s streaming partners, up from 22 last season.

By Annie Costabile

 

College Sports

Caitlin Clark scored more than everyone, but context is needed

Records come, records go. Clark is deserving of plaudits, but an explanation of the scoring record requires a deeper dive.

By Rick Telander

 

College Sports

Caitlin Clark is the gif t that keeps on giving

Iowa superstar’s three-point prowess provides us all with something to admire.

By Rick Telander

 

College Sports

Caitlin Clark scores 41 against defending champion LSU to lead Iowa back to Final Four

Monday’s highly anticipated matchup was a rematch of last year’s national championship game won by LSU.

By Associated Press

 

College Sports

The Caitlin Clark story can have only one acceptable finale

Leading Iowa to a national championship is the only way the latest GOAT can end her college career.

By Scoop Jackson

 

Sports Media

Caitlin Clark — and her fans — will put WNBA in prime position for its next media deal

Clark’s rookie season could result in record viewership, putting the league in its best position ever to negotiate a new rights deal. Its current one expires after the 2025 season.

By Jeff Agrest

 

College Sports

Caitlin Clark adds to her legacy, passing LSU's Pete Maravich for NCAA scoring record

Maravich’s record stood for more than 50 years before Clark wrote her name over it. Kelsey Plum, now a star in the WNBA, held the NCAA women’s scoring record for seven years before Clark passed it Feb. 6, also at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

By Annie Costabile

 

College Sports

Caitlin Clark ready to enjoy her final college season after entering the WNBA Draft

Clark had an additional year of eligibility that the NCAA granted to all players who played during the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020-21 season.

By Associated Press

 

College Sports

Iowa's Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA women's career scoring record

Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA women’s career scoring record, making a long 3-pointer in the first quarter for No. 4 Iowa against Michigan on Thursday night. Clark went into the game needing eight points to pass Kelsey Plum’s total of 3,527.

By Associated Press

 

College Sports

The Caitlin Clark Show comes to Chicago

Clark is averaging 31.7 points per game this season for the Hawkeyes, which puts her about five games away from passing Kelsey Plum’s 3,527-point scoring record and 10 games away from LSU legend Pete Maravich’s 3,667-point record in the men’s game.

By Annie Costabile

 

College Sports

Is it safe to ask if Paige Bueckers, not Caitlin Clark, is the best player in women's college basketball?

The UConn star might have the better all-around game.

By Rick Morrissey

 

Sports

Polling Place: Is Iowa's Caitlin Clark the greatest women's college basketball player ever?

The opinions tend to be strong on this matter.

By Steve Greenberg

 

Chicago Sky and WNBA

WNBA Mock Draft: Who will be selected after Caitlin Clark goes No. 1?

This year’s draft class had the potential to be a total bust because several stars, including Clark, could have opted to return to college for a fifth season.

By Annie Costabile