INDIANAPOLIS — When Caitlin Clark walked to the dais Wednesday in Indianapolis, she looked like a natural.
The former University of Iowa star, who was the No. 1 pick of Monday night’s WNBA draft, eagerly discussed the impact a new television deal could have around the league. Clark outlined her goal of helping the Indiana Fever end a seven-year playoff drought, talked about being “terrified” of her “Saturday Night Live” appearance last weekend, even teased guard Tyrese Haliburton of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers about attending her rival school, Iowa State.
Still, Clark made one thing clear: She feels right at home in Indiana.
“It definitely played a huge role,” she said during her introductory news conference, explaining why she opted to leave school after making two straight runs to the national championship game. “I was hoping Indiana got the first pick; it made my life a lot better. So I was pretty excited. I was just ready for a new challenge in my life.”
Although the 6-foot guard played four seasons for the Hawkeyes, she could have returned to Iowa for a final go-around due to the blanket waiver for an extra year of eligibility the NCAA offered to athletes early in the COVID-19 pandemic.