Caitlin Clark has one more season left at Iowa and maybe … two?

Here’s some news that may cause indigestion among women’s basketball coaches around the Big Ten Conference:

Iowa junior guard Caitlin Clark said Monday that she hasn’t ruled out playing two more seasons with the Hawkeyes.

In an interview on the Dan Patrick Show, Clark said one day playing in the WNBA was “very important” to her. But it isn’t necessarily urgent.

“I have another year, and possibly one more after that, just because of COVID,” Clark said. The NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to college athletes who participated in the 2020-21 season.

“I’ll probably have to make a decision on that sometime after next year,” Clark said. “I really have no clue what I’m going to do, stay for an extra year or leave after next year.”

Patrick asked her if she’d be taking a pay cut by going to the WNBA. Clark has NIL deals now, and would probably only add to those in remaining seasons at Iowa. As of last year, the WNBA’s average salary was $102,751.

“Not necessarily,” she said, noting that WNBA players have NIL-like endorsement deals.

“It’s not something I would factor into my decision of staying or going too much.

“I think I just love this place. I love getting to play in front of sellout crowds every single night. I love college basketball. I don’t know, it would be hard to leave. I think what we’ve been able to build has been super-special, too.

“But more than anything, I love this program. I love getting to play for Coach (Lisa) Bluder. I’m getting to play with my best friends. … It would be really hard to leave that, especially when you know you can go to the WNBA even the year after that.

“There’s pros and cons to both sides.”

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