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The Story of Caitlin Clark: 21-Year-Old March Madness Sensation Who Grew Up Defying All Odds While Mirroring Stephen Curry

Published 04/02/2023, 7:10 AM EDT

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March Madness is just one game away from officially coming to an end. While the teams gear up for one last faceoff, a particular star is currently basking in the glory ahead of the Sunday night final. Caitlin Clark became the talk of the town after she led her team to victory in the Final Four. The Iowa Hawkeyes star turned several heads with her 41-point performance in the game against South Carolina Gamecocks. While she was recently named the AP National Player of the Year, little did fans know that the 21-year-old rising star had to first prove her worth as an athlete by playing against boys.

The Hawkeyes guard led her team to the Final Four for the first time in 30 years. After defeating Louisville Cardinals in Elite Eight, courtesy of Clark’s another 41-point game, the Hawkeyes claimed victory over the Gamecocks by 77-73 in the Final Four. Clark is currently averaging 27.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.6 assists.

NCAA star’s dad opened up about her childhood

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It seems like Caitlin Clark’s dad had been waiting for the significant moment for quite some time now. When asked about his daughter’s achievement, her dad’s response was, ‘it’s about time’. According to Insider, he further added, “Needless to say it’s been a great journey so far,” he said. “Let’s just make it even greater.”

Clark’s father also spilled the beans on her prior basketball ventures. He revealed that when the Hawkeyes guard was just a kid, she had to compete in the boys’ league because they were unable to find a suitable girls’ league for her. To make matters worse, the parents of several players objected to her inclusion in the boys’ team after she started dominating the competition.

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READ MORE – “Everything of Value…Was Stolen from Me”: Amid March Madness, 2x NBA Champion Shares His Disheartening NCAA Memory

However, she overcame the obstacles and went on to win an AAU state championship with her team.

The Stephen Curry of women’s basketball

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith publicly called her the ‘Steph Curry of women’s college basketball’, a term that many might agree with. Smith further backed his claim by stating, “She has [an] unlimited range. She’s got a handle, she can get to the basket. She’s aggressive with this.”

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Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry too praised the college basketball star. The 4x NBA champion said, “We know everything kind of centers around her, but she does a great job of scoring at a high level but also being a playmaker and distributor.”

With the basketball world’s eyes fixed on her, Clark will be looking forward to making more history with the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday. The National Championship game between the Hawkeyes and the LSU Tigers will be played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

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WATCH THIS STORY:  5 times Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal had heated fights on Inside the NBA

Who do you think will come out on top? Will Clark complete one of the greatest March Madness runs in history with a title? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Siyari Debbarma

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Siyari Debbarma is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. She is currently pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering and previously interned at the Y-East Organization as a content writer. Siyari has played quite a bit of basketball throughout her school years, and started following the NBA last year.
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Edited by:

Pragya Vashisth