This story was written by Bridget Hyland. It was originally published by the Tribune News Service here: https://delivery.tribuneconten...
Following a historic college basketball career, Caitlin Clark will next the next step on Monday.
The Iowa guard is expected be selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Draft. Now, the world will anticipate watching how her game translates in her professional career.
Clark spoke on the TODAY Show on Monday morning about the expectations surrounding her WNBA debut later this year. She said it will “probably be a little bit of a learning curve” but a “good challenge.”
“Being confident in all the work I’ve put in, in the moments, and knowing that I’ve earned to be in this moment — that’s always kind of what I remind myself, you know, you’re not here by accident,” she said.
Clark’s college career came to an end earlier this month and she finishes as one of the best all-time passers in college basketball with a Division I record of 1,144 assists. There’s been discussion about how Clark’s game will translate to the WNBA.
Diana Taurasi, spoke on ESPN about Clark’s professional career before the NCAA title game, which Iowa lost to South Carolina.
“Look, SVP, reality is coming,” said Taurasi, who played at UConn before a 19-year career with the Phoenix Mercury. “There’s levels to this thing. That’s just life. We all went through it. You see it on the NBA side, and you’re going to see it on this side. You look superhuman playing against some 18 years olds but you’re going to come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.
Not saying that it’s not going to translate because when you’re great at you do you’re just going to get better, but there is going to be a transition period when you have to give some grace as a rookie. It make take a little bit longer for some people.”
The WNBA Draft begins Monday at 7:30 p.m
