Caitlin Clark is the unquestioned leader of the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team. And she is the best player in women’s college basketball right now. She is currently second in the entire nation in scoring, the national leader in assists, and has the Hawkeyes ranked as high as second in the entire nation, with only the undefeated South Carolina ahead of them. And this year it is clear that Caitlin is the best player in all of women’s college basketball, a reality that might as well have been her destiny. Because we should have seen this coming for a while now.

Caitlin has always been the best player wherever she goes

If it is even possible, Caitlin has been underrated as a player ever since entering college basketball. She was the state player of the year as a junior, two time gold medalist at the FIBA World Cup, and was a Nike EYBL champion. Yet Caitlin was ranked the fourth best recruit on ESPN in 2020. She was the second ranked guard overall behind Paige Bueckers who is not playing this season at all due to injury. But Caitlin doesn’t just win, she does it in style, where this year she is now among the nation’s stat leaders in points, assists, three pointers, and free throws. The Hawkeyes are now ranked second in the nation after a dominating performance where she led Iowa to beat number 14 ranked Ohio State, by 33 points! And her contribution was that of a triple double with 30 points, 17 assists, and 10 rebounds.

Caitlin is in the best basketball situation possible

What matters most is that Caitlin is doing all of this for a team that nobody expected to make it this far. She could have chosen to go anywhere, but as a state of Iowa native, Caitlin chose to stay close to home and play for the Hawkeyes. In 2020 she was the only top 100 recruit in her class to choose them. In contrast Iowa State had four recruits commit in that same year. Either the ranking systems were wrong, or Caitlin is that good. Because most top recruits are on teams with other players from that list. And Caitlin instead chose a team where she could truly maximize her talents. So much so that the Hawkeyes are now winning a lot of games, sometimes by many points, against top competition, ask Ohio State.

The Bottom Line 

With March Madness on the horizon it remains to be seen how far Caitlin can lead the Hawkeyes. But she wanted to be the leader, and she has already led Iowa to the top of the bracket as a number 1 seed. Regardless of what the rankings say, I’ve learned my lesson, not to bet against the best, which Caitlin certainly is.

KNOW THE GAME. WIN THE GAME.

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