NCAA broadcasting legend Dick Vitale reacts to major Caitlin Clark achievement

NCAA broadcasting legend and ESPN analyst DIck Vitale praised former Iowa Hawkeye superstar Caitlin Clark after The Associated Press chose the NCAA's all-time leading scorer as its Female Athlete of the Year.

Vitale, a former head coach known for his four-decade tenure as a college basketball broadcaster for ESPN, gave AP a seal of approval, posting a comment on X/Twitter on Christmas Day.

"Yes @CaitlinClark22 absolutely has earned this fantastic honor," Vitale wrote.

Clark's impact in women's basketball from leading Iowa to its second national championship game to becoming the top pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and winning the Rookie of the Year honors prompted 35 AP sports journalists and members to vote for the transcendent shooting guard.

The NCAA all-time leading scorer edged Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who came up second with 25 votes and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif (four votes).

Clark joined Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1993) and Candace Parker (2008, 2021) as the women's basketball players that AP has chosen for the annual award since it was first presented in 1931.

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Iowa to retire Caitlin Clark's jersey on February 2

Iowa will pay tribute to college basketball legend Caitlin Clark with a jersey retirement ceremony on Feb. 2, 2025, inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Clark, a two-time recipient of the Wooden, Naismith, Wade, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Honda Cup and AAU Sullivan awards, has said the school holds a special place in her heart and the jersey retirement means the world to her. She expects a celebration with her family, friends and alumni.

"It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I've admired for so long," she said via Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics.

Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz said the event will speak about her contributions to the Hawkeyes women's basketball team and her legacy that will inspire future generations.

Clark's No. 22 jersey will be retired during Iowa's Big 10 clash against Juju Watkins and the USC Trojans at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Interestingly, Watkins is seen as the lone threat to break Clark's all-time scoring record, scoring 1,000 points in 38 games. The Iowa legend, who scored 3,951 points in his four-year tenure with the Hawkeyes, picked up her 1,000th point on her 40th game.