Dawn Staley Changes Tune On Caitlin Clark Not Being An All-Time Great With Classy Message After National Championship Game

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South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley had a classy message for Caitlin Clark after beating Iowa on Sunday.

Last week, Staley said she wouldn’t consider Clark an all-time great college basketball player unless she won a national championship.

“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.”

Despite her previous comments, Staley made sure to call Clark “one of the GOATS” for what she did for women’s basketball this season during her postgame speech on Sunday afternoon after South Carolina won the National Championship.

“I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport, she carried a heavy load for our sport, and it’s not just going to stop here on a collegiate tour, but when she’s the number one pick in the WNBA draft, she’s going to lift that league up as well. So Caitlin Clark…you are one of the GOATS of our game and we appreciate you.”