ALBANY — Even though Caitlin Clark didn’t play until Saturday afternoon, the lobby was packed before the Sweet 16 game started, filled with wide-eyed young girls eager to watch women’s college basketball. was.
The Oregon State University band played to the dreams of the young girls waiting to be let inside MVP Arena with their mothers and fathers, or even grandmothers and grandfathers. It was the same dream Caitlin Clark once had as a young girl. West Des Moines, Iowa.
Caitlin Sanity is coming to Albany.
“I like her. She’s an inspiration to kids like me who like to play basketball,” said Casey, 8, from Cooperstown.
So maybe someday you’ll grow up to be Caitlin Clark, right?
“I would like to,” Casey said. “I’ll try.”
Rachel, from Latham, New York, is 15 years old. She plays point guard at Shaker High School.
“When you watch her, she excites people, especially when she hits shots from like half court,” Rachel said.
Is she a source of inspiration for you?
“yes she is.”
why?
“She inspires people all over the world to be better.”
Clark inspires people around the world to be better.
What do you like most about her game?
“I think it’s like her court awareness, and I don’t think people talk about it that much…like even without seeing the players, she already knows where they are on the court. Things. She can flip behind-the-back passes and things like that, and it gets to them.”
Rachel is one of the lucky ones. She plans to watch Kaitlyn Clark and Iowa’s game against Colorado on Saturday at MVP Arena. Her grandmother Kathy got her two tickets online.
“It was $230 each,” Kathy said.
Grandma also used to play basketball.
“I love Caitlin Clark,” she said. “She has an all-around game. Everyone used to bully her that all she did was score, but when you look at her assists and rebounds, just her vision on the court is amazing. It’s on target.”
Does Caitlin inspire you?
“In my playing days, long “It’s done,” she said, smiling. She just saw this participant, she came here a few years ago when a tournament was held, but never like this. there is nothing. You didn’t wait to get inside. ”
Julia is a 10-year-old point guard for U-11 in Hamilton, Canada.
“I love her,” she said.
why?
“She’s a really good shooter and I want to be like her.”
Julia loves Clark’s competitive nature. She said, “I really like how she gets angry when she repeats her mistakes, because it means she wants to be better.”
Kate Lueck’s father, Scott, is the women’s coach at Oregon State, which beat Notre Dame 70-65 on Friday. Her wife, Kelly, praises Clark for pushing women’s basketball into the public consciousness. Their two daughters, Kate, 17, and Macy, 12, are point guards.
“I think she’s an inspiration to me,” Macy said. And I think what she can do is really amazing. ”
When asked why Clark is an inspiration to her, Lindley, a 10-year-old shooting guard who lives in nearby Clifton Park, said, “Because I want to shoot like her.”
Her friend Emma, 10, also a shooting guard, added: She is very good at shooting and is good at shooting from a wide range. ”
Ella, 17, a security guard from Troy, Pennsylvania, was wearing an Iowa State sweatshirt.
“Oh, she’s definitely the best college basketball player.” [player] Never before,” she said.
What do you like about her?
“Her style of play. … Like her shooting. It’s just crazy.”
Her friend Brenna, 12, agrees. But shooting isn’t the only thing Ella really loves.
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“She’s humble when she needs to be, yet sassy when she’s confident.”
Brian Vannoy coaches a high school girls team in Canton, Pennsylvania.
“I think she’s really phenomenal. I think what’s different about her is she plays the game with a Kobe Bryant kind of mentality,” he said. “She puts everything on the line and refuses to lose. If she loses, you’re going to get everything she has. She also holds herself accountable to her teammates. I think there’s a Kobe Bryant-like side of her that wants the best and wants the best for her. And I think the other players on her team want the best for her… She just does it. . Just like you, we don’t really have a choice.”
Juliana is a security guard.
“I like her shooting form,” she said. “I like the way she does crossovers.”
They’re playing Albany this weekend.
What do you think Caitlin Clark has done for young girls like you?
“It probably inspired others to work harder and dedicate themselves to the sport.”
Vakala (10 years old): “I want to grow up to be a good shooter and player like her.”
Her younger sister Karana is 14 years old. She said, “Her determination and watching her play really inspires her to try and do good things for basketball.”
Moira is a 9-year-old point guard and a fan of Caitlin Clark. “She’s a good basketball player.”
Basketball star Caitlin Clark.
what about her? “She’s shooting 3s.” How does she inspire you? “Thank you for your hard work.”
Grayson is also 9 years old and plays center. “She can shoot threes and she’s good at it.” How does Caitlin inspire you? “Please try your best.”
Emily is 9 years old. “She’s a great athlete.” What’s so great about her? “Her shots, and the passes she makes.” Why is she an inspiration to you? “She makes me want to be like her when I grow up.”
A reporter told Caitlin Clark that a middle school girl was wearing her number 22 when he went to his AAU team’s local practice.
“I think that’s the best part of what I do,” she said. “I grew up with those role models and aspired to be who I am today. It’s so special to see your impact not just in Iowa, but across the nation.
“And I think the biggest thing for us this year is that it’s not just Iowa. Of course, Iowa State supports us to the hilt, but no matter where we go, So many people support us and want us to succeed.
“It’s really special to be able to have that kind of impact on the next generation. I want to dream and aspire to be like me one day and follow all their dreams.”
Greatlynn Clark.
