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Caitlin Clark taken No. 1 in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, as expected

Caitlin Clark taken No. 1 in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, as expected
SHE HAS BECOME A SUPERSTAR, BEING COMPARED NOW TO THE LIKES OF MICHAEL JORDAN, SPORTS BUSINESS EXPERTS LIKE PROFESSOR MICHAEL MCCANN OF THE UNH, FRANKLIN PIERCE SCHOOL OF LAW SAY A BIG PART OF THE SHIFT HAS TO DO WITH THE LARGER CHANGES WITHIN THE WORLD OF COLLEGE SPORTS, NAMELY INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES LIKE CLARK CAN NOW MONETIZE THEIR NAME, THEIR IMAGE AND THEIR LIKENESS. MEANING FANS ARE GETTING A LOT MORE OF THEM. SHE STILL WOULD BE VERY FAMOUS IF SHE PLAYED BEFORE FOR THE NCAA, KIND OF RELUCTANTLY ALLOWED PLAYERS TO MAKE MONEY ON NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS IN 2021. BUT I THINK SHE’S NOW IN AN ERA WHERE THE ATHLETE HERSELF OR HIMSELF IS REALLY CELEBRATED IN A WAY THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE’VE SEEN IN COLLEGE SPORTS OVER THE YEARS, WHERE IT’S BEEN MORE KIND OF TEAM CENTRIC. AND SO IN TERMS OF WHAT’S NEXT FOR CLARK, WELL, MCCANN SAYS HE BELIEVES THE EXPECTATION IS THAT CLARK IS GOING TO CATAPULT NEXT. THE WNBA TO A LEVEL THAT IT HAS NEVER SEEN. FIRST, OF COURSE, TRY TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. YOU CAN SEE THE WNBA, THE WOMEN’S NCAA FINAL FOUR, STARTING TONIGHT AT SEVEN ON ESPN, AND THEN THE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP GOING TO
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Caitlin Clark taken No. 1 in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, as expected
Caitlin Clark admitted she was a bit nervous before being chosen with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, even though it was no surprise.Video above: What Caitlin Clark's rise to stardom means for future of women's sports"I dreamed of this moment since I was in second grade, and it’s taken a lot of hard work, a lot of ups and downs, but more than anything, just trying to soak it in,” Clark said.The former Iowa star became a household name among basketball fans during her record-breaking college career, and she will now try and help revive the Indiana franchise along with last season's No. 1 pick, Aliyah Boston.Shop the whole WNBA Draft collection here / Click here to find Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever jersey“The organization has one of the best post players in the entire world. My point guard eyes light up with that,” she said.The Fever taking Clark had been a foregone conclusion since she announced on Feb. 29 she would turn pro. Nearly 17,000 tickets were claimed to watch the draft at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home to the Fever and the NBA's Indiana Pacers.Clark has helped bring millions of fans to the women's game with her signature shots from the midcourt logo and passing ability. The NCAA's all-time scoring leader was a big reason why a record 18.9 million viewers tuned in to the national championship game, which Iowa lost to unbeaten South Carolina. The Hawkeyes were also the national runners-up to LSU a year earlier.Clark, who wore a white Prada jacket and skirt, hugged her parents and brothers and Iowa coach Lisa Bluder after she was drafted.The draft was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in front of 1,000 fans, who bought all the tickets within 15 minutes of them going on sale a few months ago.Los Angeles chose Stanford's Cameron Brink at No. 2. She'll get to stay in California and will give the Sparks a two-way player.“When they called my name, a huge wave of emotions hit me,” Brink said. “I saw my mom tearing up and my dad and it hit home.”A prolific scorer, Brink was also the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. The Sparks needed to replace franchise player Nneka Ogwumike, who left for Seattle in free agency. Brink's godmother, Sonya Curry, is the mother of Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.“I FaceTimed Steph five minutes before the show started and he said have fun with it,” Brink said. “He can share so much great advice since he’s been through this. Make stuff like this fun as it can be stressed.”Chicago had the third pick and chose South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso before the Sparks were on the clock again and and selected Tennessee's Rickea Jackson.Cardoso had a busy week, helping the Gamecocks win the national championship to complete an undefeated season. She took part in the team's championship parade on Sunday before traveling to New York.Dallas took Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon with the fifth pick. Washington drafted Aaliyah Edwards of UConn sixth before Chicago took LSU's Angel Reese at No. 7, pairing her with Cardoso.“She’s a great player and I’m a great player. Nobody’s going to get no rebounds on us,” the 6-foot-7 Cardoso said, laughing.Minnesota, which had swapped picks with Chicago, drafted Alissa Pili of Utah eighth.

Caitlin Clark admitted she was a bit nervous before being chosen with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, even though it was no surprise.

Video above: What Caitlin Clark's rise to stardom means for future of women's sports

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"I dreamed of this moment since I was in second grade, and it’s taken a lot of hard work, a lot of ups and downs, but more than anything, just trying to soak it in,” Clark said.

The former Iowa star became a household name among basketball fans during her record-breaking college career, and she will now try and help revive the Indiana franchise along with last season's No. 1 pick, Aliyah Boston.

Shop the whole WNBA Draft collection here / Click here to find Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever jersey

“The organization has one of the best post players in the entire world. My point guard eyes light up with that,” she said.

The Fever taking Clark had been a foregone conclusion since she announced on Feb. 29 she would turn pro. Nearly 17,000 tickets were claimed to watch the draft at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home to the Fever and the NBA's Indiana Pacers.

Clark has helped bring millions of fans to the women's game with her signature shots from the midcourt logo and passing ability. The NCAA's all-time scoring leader was a big reason why a record 18.9 million viewers tuned in to the national championship game, which Iowa lost to unbeaten South Carolina. The Hawkeyes were also the national runners-up to LSU a year earlier.

Clark, who wore a white Prada jacket and skirt, hugged her parents and brothers and Iowa coach Lisa Bluder after she was drafted.

The draft was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in front of 1,000 fans, who bought all the tickets within 15 minutes of them going on sale a few months ago.

Los Angeles chose Stanford's Cameron Brink at No. 2. She'll get to stay in California and will give the Sparks a two-way player.

“When they called my name, a huge wave of emotions hit me,” Brink said. “I saw my mom tearing up and my dad and it hit home.”

A prolific scorer, Brink was also the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. The Sparks needed to replace franchise player Nneka Ogwumike, who left for Seattle in free agency. Brink's godmother, Sonya Curry, is the mother of Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

“I FaceTimed Steph five minutes before the show started and he said have fun with it,” Brink said. “He can share so much great advice since he’s been through this. Make stuff like this fun as it can be stressed.”

Chicago had the third pick and chose South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso before the Sparks were on the clock again and and selected Tennessee's Rickea Jackson.

Cardoso had a busy week, helping the Gamecocks win the national championship to complete an undefeated season. She took part in the team's championship parade on Sunday before traveling to New York.

Dallas took Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon with the fifth pick. Washington drafted Aaliyah Edwards of UConn sixth before Chicago took LSU's Angel Reese at No. 7, pairing her with Cardoso.

“She’s a great player and I’m a great player. Nobody’s going to get no rebounds on us,” the 6-foot-7 Cardoso said, laughing.

Minnesota, which had swapped picks with Chicago, drafted Alissa Pili of Utah eighth.