The top-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes, led by Caitlin Clark, are undeterred by their opponent’s “murderer’s row” in the Albany-2 Region, according to ESPN’s Carolyn Peck.
After the bracket was revealed, Clark remarked, “In the end, it doesn’t matter.” “Every round, we have to be present.”
Clark comes into this tournament with a legacy that is set, regardless of how far Iowa advances. She is among the best athletes to have ever played the game.
There’s no secret to being one of the greatest; it’s a status that’s hard to define in the abstract and blatantly obvious in its presence. To paraphrase former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, “You know it when you see it.” Whether you prefer the G.O.A.T. acronym, as her team proclaimed and POTUS affirmed, or “1 of 1” like UConn legend Rebecca Lobo dubbed Clark.
With Clark, we all see it and know it, as Shaquille O’Neal attests.
All athletes from all times and all sports have one measurable G.O.A.T. trait in common: the greatest athletes reached their pinnacle during their careers rather than after.
Not even Usain Bolt’s third consecutive 100-meter gold in Rio, Serena Williams’ final grand slam, Muhammad Ali’s third fight against Frazier, Simone Biles’ sixth world all-around gold, or Jack Nicklaus’s 18th major at the 1986 Masters were necessary for Michael Jordan to become one of the greatest players of all time.
Before they achieved their final noteworthy professional achievement, the aforementioned athletes solidified their place among the greatest of all time.
Peak performance in sports occurs in a domain that defies explanation. That’s where Clark is now.
Millions of people tune in to watch her play on television, pay exorbitant fees to see her live, and showered with well-deserved accolades from all over the world, proving her greatness. However, these extraordinary circumstances bear witness to her grandeur, not the boxes she had to tick in order to achieve the rank.
She is just as magnificent after leading Iowa to the NCAA championship as she is after making an early departure.
Clark is among the best college athletes of all time. She will continue to write living history and there will be up to six more opportunities to see her play in college. Let’s all remember to have fun on the trip and not worry about where she might end up after another long run. She has already arrived.
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