Caitlin Clark had the option of staying with the Hawkeyes at the University of Iowa for one more season, as the NCAA allowed students from 2020 and 2021 an extra year because of COVID-19. However, Clark opted to head into the WNBA, despite her disappointing salary, which will pit her against more seasoned players. “The defenders in the W are a lot older, they’re experienced and they’ve been defending superstars for years; they’ll know exactly what to do against her,” former Hawkeyes team member Megan Gustafson told USA Today. “Rookies coming in from being collegiate superstars, they have a target on their back. The first thing vets want to do is make them look bad,” the Las Vegas Aces player added.
A WNBA coach noted that while Clark went up against good players in college basketball, they don’t compare to pros like Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, per ESPN. “She plays at a great pace, but you still may see teams try to speed her up with the ball and try to push her toward your rim protector,” an unnamed coach stated. Another coach shared, “She will be put in pick-and-roll situations where teams look to attack her off the bounce. On transition, she will have to work hard to stay in front of quicker, more experienced guards.” Being a rookie doesn’t just mean Clark has less experience, but her younger age also puts her at a disadvantage when it comes to her size.
