Sheryl Swoopes: Caitlin Clark 'has absolutely taken the women’s game to a different level'

Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark is one of the best players in college basketball history. She is the NCAA Divison I all-time leading scorer, a two-time national player of the year, and has turned many people into women’s basketball fans in recent years.

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes of the Audacy original podcast “Queens of the Court” talked about Clark’s talent, impact, and transition to the professional level after Iowa lost in the National Championship game this week.

“Caitlin Clark is probably the best shooter, especially in the college game, that I’ve ever seen. I’m not saying there haven’t been others, but that I’ve ever seen,” Swoopes said (43:10 in player above).” I agree with Dawn (Staley) when she said everything that Caitlin has done, whether she intentionally did it or not, she has absolutely taken the women’s game to a different level.

“She’s brought more eyes, people who never watched a single game of women’s basketball tuned in because they wanted to see who is this little girl from Iowa shooting these logo threes? Because that’s the narrative, that’s what’s out there. Who is this person that’s shooting these logo threes?”

There’s something about Clark’s game that draws in viewers. And once you’ve watched a game, or a highlight, you’re drawn in for good.

“When you tune in to watch one game, you’re hooked,” Swoopes continued. “It’s impressive. Her ability to just score in droves is very special. It’s so good to see and good to watch.”

The WNBA draft is now just days away on Monday, April 15th. Clark is expected to go first overall, but a lot of people have been putting unnecessary pressure on the star shooter.

“I think what the media, what some of the fans have done, though, has just put so much pressure on her — and a lot of the other players; I’m going to put Angel (Reese) in there too. I just think what they’ve done is put so much pressure on these young girls, young women, to go to the league with a big target on their back,” Swoopes said. “I don’t think there’s ever been a question or a doubt that they will succeed at the next level, that they will be really good at the next level.

“I think it’s more about the timing of it all. I want to say this one thing because there’s just so much stuff on the internet like always. I think when people hear former players or current players talk about the adjustment and talk about the difference in how tough it’s going to be at the next level, that’s not personal. That’s not hate. That’s not jealousy. That’s reality. And if former players and current players can’t talk to these incoming rookies about how hard the league is and how tough it’s going to be and the adjustment it’s going to be, if we can’t do that then nobody should be doing it.

Swoopes reiterated that it’s not hate or criticism, but rather a warning or advice from players who have made the jump to the professional level.
“It’s not coming from a place of hate, a place of jealousy, a place of envy. It’s coming from a place of we went through it, we’ve been there. And it’s no knock on these players because every single player there’s an adjustment, even on the NBA side,” she continued. “There’s an adjustment going from being a college athlete playing against 18, 19, 20-year olds. Now you’re going to a professional league where these are grown women.

“So when I think about, because this is a Caitlin Clark segment, when I think about what Caitlin is going to be able to do at the next level, there’s no doubt in my mind that Caitlin will make Indiana a better team, but Indiana they already have so many great pieces. It’s just a matter of making it all come together. How quickly will that all come together? But there’s still going to be an adjustment period.”

All in all, this is a fantastic time for women’s basketball. There are already so many great players in the WNBA and a new crop of talent are set to join them.

“I am so excited about this upcoming WNBA season because we have so much great talent coming into the draft this year, and you add that with the great talent that’s already there,” Swoopes said. “It’s going to be a good season.”