Dawn Staley and Caitlin Clark are two of the most respected people in women’s basketball. Clark has helped the game skyrocket in popularity over the past few years, while Staley is one of the finest coaches.
In 2024, Staley and her South Carolina Gamecocks defeated Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the national championship game. It was the Gamecocks’ second championship in three seasons, and Staley’s third championship with the team.
However, when Staley was interviewed on the court after the game, she did not want to speak about herself. Instead, she spoke about Clark and how much she had done for women’s basketball.
Staley praised Clark as one of the GOATs of women’s basketball and wished her luck in the WNBA.
“I really would just like to say that I have to congratulate Iowa on an incredible season,” Staley said. “Awesome, awesome. And I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport. She carried a heavy load for our sport and it just is not gonna start here on the collegiate tour but when she is the number one pick in the WNBA draft, she is gonna lift that league up as well.
“So, Caitlin Clark, if you’re out there, you are one of the GOATs of our game and we appreciate you.”
Dawn Staley gave a shoutout to Caitlin Clark for what she has done for women’s basketball 👏 pic.twitter.com/dhTb85Dt0t
— ESPN (@espn) April 7, 2024
Caitlin Clark Went On to Achieve Success in WNBA
While it was not a surprise that Caitlin Clark became an immediate star in the WNBA, her impact has exceeded what most people expected. Like Dawn Staley predicted, Clark has helped skyrocket the popularity of the WNBA in her first two seasons.
According to a report from “Sportsnaut” in May, Clark has the highest-selling jersey in the WNBA. She is beating out many established WNBA stars and has become the face of the league.
As a rookie, Clark received nearly every accolade she could receive. She was the Rookie of the Year and received All-WNBA First Team honors. Additionally, despite only being a rookie, she finished fourth in MVP voting. Now in her second season, she is looking like a serious contender to be the league’s MVP.
Dawn Staley has also continued her success since her 2024 championship. She led the Gamecocks to another national championship appearance in 2025, but lost to the UConn Huskies.
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