“She would have to be superhuman for all four quarters” - Rachel Nichols analyzes Caitlin Clark's NCAA Finals loss
Despite averaging 31.6 points per game in her senior year, Caitlin Clark once again fell short of winning the NCAA Tournament, suffering a disappointing 87-75 loss in the championship game.
To Rachel Nichols, this defeat holds deeper significance than what meets the eye. In the latest episode of Undisputed, the 50-year-old NBA analyst speculated that Caitlin, owing to her impressive showings, carried the weight of women’s basketball on her shoulders, which potentially affected her performance in the biggest game.
"She's 1-for-7 from the 3, that 1-of-7 number is also about mental wear and tear. Having the person who carries her team, frankly… all of women's basketball, the position we put her in - unfairly at this point," Nichols said. "She would have to be superhuman for all four quarters, and mentally, that is just an incredible weight to carry."
Caitlin’s hot start, with 18 points in the first quarter against South Carolina, fizzled out as she struggled and added just 12 more points in the remaining three quarters. This drop in scoring coincided with Iowa being outplayed in each subsequent quarter, which only validates Nichols’ point of how at the of 22, Caitlin bore more burden on her shoulders than was required, be it for Iowa State or for garnering more interest towards women's basketball.
Rachel Nichols on Caitlin Clark
In the aftermath of South Carolina’s triumph, speculation emerged regarding Clark’s potential as the greatest female basketball player had she clinched a championship, considering her meteoric influence, likened to that of Michael Jordan’s, and how it kept fans glued to their screens.
Yet, Nichols contested this notion, arguing that even with a championship, Clark wouldn’t surpass the accomplishments of Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker in collegiate basketball. Despite this, Nichols recognized Caitlin’s unmatched influence, dubbing her the most influential women’s collegiate basketball player, whose legacy will shape women’s sports for years to come.
Lastly, for Rachel, given the fact that the championship game clocked as many as 24.7 million viewers, Caitlin’s impact will extend beyond the sport of basketball, empowering other female athletes to be kept on the same pedestal as their male counterparts.
Some want Clark to retire despite all success
As the basketball community eagerly anticipates Caitlin’s debut in the WNBA next season, there are also voices cautioning against the challenges she may face.
Some, like Jason Whitlock, argue that the 22-year-old should steer clear of the WNBA's ‘nasty’ environment and consider retiring from basketball altogether.
Could we be witnessing the rise of the WNBA’s greatest player of all time? It remains to be seen. What is definite is that whenever CC steps onto the hardwood, drama and speculation will be abundant in the background of every move she makes.
