Dawn Staley will not consider Caitlin Clark to be one of women’s college basketball’s all-time greats unless Iowa beats undefeated South Carolina in the national championship on Sunday. The 53-year-old head coach believes that the greatest scorer of all-time needs to win a title first.
She echoed the sentiment shared by Breanna Stewart.
UConn’s four-time national champion was asked about her opinion of Clark. Stewart said that the Hawkeyes star’s name cannot be considered alongside legends like Cheryl Miller, Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, etc. because she does not have a ring — yet.
UPDATE: Staley changed her tune after the national championship game on Sunday.
Staley, who was a two-time Naismith College Player of the Year at Virginia, agrees. Her outlook on what defines an “all-time great” was very self-reflective.
I was really good in college but never won a championship. You gotta win a championship. You’ve got to win a championship.
That’s me, personally. Like, I had a great career. But it’s always, “did you win a championship?”
Went to the Final Four three times. We never won. I do think — I agree with [Breanna Stewart] when it comes to winning the championship. We’re going to talk about GOATs. I think she’s the GOAT, to be able to win four National Championships and to be MVP. I think she was MVP all four times.
If Caitlin wins the championship, she’s pretty damn good, yeah, like, she’s a GOAT. I mean, she’s really damn good regardless. But winning the championship would seal the deal.
— Dawn Staley
Of course, Clark’s final opportunity to win a title will come on Sunday against the Gamecocks. South Carolina, of course, is coached by Staley— who does not want her to win.
I hope to the dear Lord she doesn’t.
— Dawn Staley
This discussion has been had at nauseam over the last few weeks. Is Caitlin Clark one of the greatest to ever do it without a title?
On one end, she is the leading scorer in the sport and led a team that had never reached a Final Four to two-straight national championship appearances. On the other end, she has yet to win.
For someone like Stewart to talk down on Clark is one thing. The Huskies had a loaded roster while she was in Storrs and she won four rings in four years.
For someone like Staley to agree is another thing. Many people would consider her to be one of the greatest of all-time.
She does not think that of herself because she does not have a ring. That is a rather eye-opening perspective!
Caitlin Clark will have one last chance to end this never-ending discussion in Cleveland against the same woman who essentially wrote her off one day prior. Hang it on the bulletin board!