"I'm only promised 40 more minutes" - $3.1M NIL-valued Caitlin Clark opens up about having "calming sense" amid Iowa's 2024 March Madness run

Caitlin Clark is currently making waves in the March Madness tournament. Her team, Iowa, has advanced to the Elite Eight after defeating the Colorado Buffaloes in the Sweet Sixteen with the final score reading 89-68. They are scheduled to face LSU, their rivals from last season, in the Albany 2 regional finals in New York on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Clark, who is expected to move on to the WNBA next season, reflected on her influence on college basketball and what she has left to offer.

"Honestly, I think when I step on the court, a calming sense comes over me like this is where I'm supposed to be," she said in a post-game interview. "I have 13 amazing teammates that have my back. I'm only promised 40 more minutes so might as well go win it."

She further reflected on the hard work she's put into her career:

"And you know, these are the moments you've worked so hard for. This is what you've put your time in the gym, all by yourself and with your teammates."

The Iowa guard had one of the best games of her career against Colorado. She finished with 29 points, six rebounds, and 15 assists, her best showing in the NCAA tournament so far.

Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese: The historic face-off

LSU and Iowa are set to face each other in the regional finals, exactly one year after their national championship showdown. Clark could not contain her excitement:

“Yeah, I think we’re excited. I think any time you have a chance to go up against somebody you lost to, it brings a little more energy. But, at this point in the tournament, every single team is good. Whether you’re playing West Virginia, whether you’re playing Colorado, whether you’re playing LSU, you prep the exact same way. You come in with the same exact mindset," said Clark.

She further added:

“I think overall it’s just going to be a really great game for women’s basketball, and they’re really solid one through five. We know we’re going to have to rebound the basketball. But obviously I don’t know the ins and outs of everything about them, because we haven’t gone through the scout yet,” Clark about LSU.

LSU defeated No. 2 UCLA 78-69 thanks to Flau'jae Johnson's 24 points. Angel Reese scored 15 points and was a constant threat as the Tigers advanced to the Elite Eight.