“If I was out there, I would literally have 50”: Caitlin Clark makes her feelings clear on college basketball

Caitlin Clark has grown in confidence since leaving college basketball and making her mark in the WNBA. She no longer finds college games challenging as compared to professional basketball.

“I feel like if I was out there, I would literally have 50. The college game is so much easier than professional,” Clark said in an interview with TIME Magazine while watching Ole Miss' clash with USC.

In the interview, Clark reflected on her accomplishments both on and off the court. She led Iowa to consecutive national championship appearances in her last two seasons while becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball.

It took a while for her to adapt to the higher levels of the WNBA after being selected first overall in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. However, she did well under immense expectations, winning Rookie of the Year.

Caitlin Clark reflects on transition from college to WNBA

Despite her dominance in college basketball, Caitlin Clark said she needed to adjust her game to perform at a high level in the WNBA.

“Professional players and professional coaches—this is no disrespect to college women's basketball—are a lot smarter. I love women's college basketball. But if you go back and watch the way people guarded me in college, it's almost, like, concerning," Clark said.

"They didn’t double me, they didn't trap me, they weren't physical. And it’s hard. It’s college. A lot of those women will never go on to play another basketball game in their life. They don't have the IQ of understanding how the game works. So I completely understand it. And it's no disrespect at all. They don’t have the IQ. You have to simplify it for girls at that age.”

Caitlin Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game on 41.7% shooting, including 34.4% from beyond the arc in 40 appearances. After a standout rookie campaign, she will look to make major strides next season.