Caitlin Clark showed her class after Dawn Staley response to heartbreak

Caitlin Clark showed her class after Dawn Staley showed the star guard with praise for all that she has done for women’s basketball while she was a star with the Hawkeyes in Iowa

Caitlin Clark gave an admirable response to legendary coach Dawn Staley’s praise after losing to South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament final.

Clark had achieved a fairytale college basketball career with Iowa, breaking numerous records and amassing an army of fans to support her and women’s basketball. And while the star guard helped lead the Hawkeyes to back-to-back appearances in the championship game, it was not to be as Clark was defeated by LSU and South Carolina in her two attempts.

Despite the heartbreak Clark endured to end her collegiate career, Staley was effusive in her praise for what Clark has done for the game. Speaking to reporters after South Carolina’s final matchup against Clark, Staley heaped praise onto the star for what she has done in her career to bring more attention to the game.

Personally want to thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport,” Staley said at the time. “She carried a heavy load for our sport. … Catilin Clark if you’re out there, you’re one of the GOATs of our game. We appreciate you.”

For her part, Clark was gracious in accepting Staley’s praise. After hearing the legendary head coach’s words for the impact she’s had on women’s basketball, the star made sure that her feelings were reciprocated and that she appreciated having someone of Staley’s stature recognizing what she did for basketball.

“I think any time somebody like Coach Staley is able to recognize you and what you did for the game is pretty special and obviously, she is somebody I respect very much,” Clark said in response. “I respect what she has done for South Carolina, I respect what she did as a player for our game and any time you can get the praise from her is pretty special so it means a lot.”

Caitlin Clark parlayed a successful college basketball career to a record-setting rookie season in the WNBA ( 
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Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Staley also believed Clark’s production this season was worthy of consideration for the Olympic team, despite originally being left off the squad by the selection committee. Speaking with NBC, Staley understood that Clark certainly will be on the shortlist for future Olympic teams.

“If we had to do it all over again, with the way she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she’s playing head and shoulders above a lot of people,” Staley admitted. “She’s shooting the ball extremely well. She’s an elite passer. She’s just got a great basketball IQ. And she’s a little more seasoned in the pro game than she was two months ago.”

Throughout Clark’s rookie season, she endeared herself to those around the WNBA, with head coach Stephanie White showering the rookie sensation with praise. Despite leading the Sun to the 2024 WNBA semifinals – eliminating Clark and the Fever in the process – Connecticut fired White, instantly becoming one of the top coaching candidates to replace Christie Sides, who Indiana also fired.

With White and the Fever looking more like a match that will happen in the near future, the 47-year-old’s praise and support of Clark cannot be understated. “I’m looking at all these things that all these people are talking about with Caitlin Clark,” White said at the start of the 2024 season.

“I’m like, “Guys, chill out. She’s going to be fine,'” White said. “It’s two games in, are you kidding me? She’s a student of the game. She got better every year [in college]… It takes time.”

“Everybody on the floor understands how, when and where Caitlin Clark can get them the ball. And so they get there. Kelsey Mitchell’s obviously playing at another level now, and so it gives you another player on the floor that you have to be mindful of, on and off ball in isolation and in two-man.