Iowa’s incomparable ‘22,’ Caitlin Clark is No. 1 in the WNBA Draft

For just a moment, on the stage of the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, N.Y., Caitlin Clark exhibited a number other than her trademark “22.”

Clark and WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert held it jointly, a navy Indiana Fever jersey.

The numeral: “1.”

As expected, Clark was the Fever’s selection as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft on Monday.

“I’m ready for this chapter in my life,” Clark said on ESPN’s pre-draft telecast. “I’m ready to be an adult.”

Called “generational” and “transcendent” during her unforgettable four years at the University of Iowa, the 6-foot point guard from West Des Moines becomes a cornerstone of the Fever franchise, which has not made the WNBA playoffs since 2016.

“Clark's arrival will change the perception and trajectory of the Fever franchise,” ESPN analyst Charlie Creme said. “The pairing of Clark's shooting range and passing, with the power of Aliyah Boston, make them one of the most intriguing inside-outside duos in the league.

“Clark's talents are well-detailed, and she will be the most scrutinized rookie in WNBA history.”

And it will all happen in a basketball-crazed state.

Indiana is basketball. Basketball is Indiana. And now, Clark is both.

“I know the Indiana Hoosiers didn't love me too much during my (college) career, but hopefully we can make them Fever fans if they’re not already,” Clark said via Zoom call after her selection. “I can’t imagine a better fit.”

Nor can Lin Dunn, general manager of the Fever.

“She fits the culture we are building here,” she said. “She’s a Midwest girl. She’s from the Big Ten. Is there anywhere that’s a better place for her than Indianapolis? I don’t think so.

“This is the beginning of us getting back on track toward winning a championship.”

Indiana was 10th in the 12-team league last season in win-loss record (13-27) and 11th in attendance (4,067 per game).

The Fever won a WNBA championship in 2012. They also made the finals in 2009 and 2015.

“Definitely, a goal is to get (the Fever) back to championship habits,” Clark said.

Judging by ticket prices, both in Indianapolis and for the Fever’s road games, Clark’s appeal will be league-wide immediately.

Thirty-six of the Fever’s 40 games will be televised nationally for the 2024 season, which begins May 14 at Connecticut. That same day, Clark presumably will miss her Iowa graduation in person.

The Fever’s first home game is May 16 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Clark joins a roster than includes Boston — whose South Carolina team was vanquished by Clark and the Hawkeyes in the 2023 national semifinals — and former Ohio State star Kelsey Mitchell.

Boston was the No. 1 draft pick last year.

“There’s so much I can say about Aliyah,” Clark said. “As a point guard, I’m just feeding her the ball every single game, telling her, ‘Hey, go make layups and make my life easy.’”

At Iowa, Clark was a three-time first-team All-American by the Associated Press, and was named national player of the year twice by most major award services after leading the Hawkeyes to NCAA runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024 and three Big Ten tournament titles.

Iowa finished 34-5 in 2023-24 and was a massive draw at home (season tickets were sold out in August), on the road and on television.

The Hawkeyes’ national-championship loss to South Carolina was viewed by an average of 18.7 million viewers, by far a record for a women’s basketball game.

Clark is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball — women’s or men’s — with 3,951 points, and finished with 1,144 assists, third most in the women’s game.

This season, she led the nation in both categories — 31.6 points and 8.9 assists per game.

“The scoring and the long shots are what everybody falls in love with,” Clark said. “But I think my passing is (what translates most to the WNBA).”

Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder said, “Coaching Caitlin Clark was a blessing. She is and will be a game-changer for women’s basketball. It’s insurmountable how much she has given back to the program and our university.”

Clark announced Feb. 29 that she would pass on a fifth year of eligibility of Iowa and go pro.

“It was unexpected, out of the blue,” Fever Coach Christie Sides said. “Lin sent me a text, and we both cheered for a while.”

Under the WNBA's salary structure (via the database Spotrac), the No. 1 pick will earn $76,535 this season.

Martin tabbed by Las Vegas in 2nd round

Kate Martin was selected by the Las Vegas Aces with the 18th overall pick, in the second round, far earlier than projected.

“All I wanted was an opportunity, and I got it,” Martin said.

Bluder said, “I’m so proud of Kate because her dreams came true. She has been such a big part of our program over the last six years, and her efforts did not go unnoticed by her peers.”

Martin was a member of the program for six years and scored more than 1,000 points. She was a second-team all-Big Ten selection this season, averaging 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

“If any player in the draft knows how to play with stars and take a secondary role, it's Martin after four seasons with Clark,” Creme said. “Martin will adapt to any role, can defend and is an opportunistic 3-point shooter.”

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Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com