After winning against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, the Boston Celtics shifted their attention to something else: watching Caitlin Clark and the final moments of Iowa’s victory over LSU in the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
With the TV volume turned up, 10 Celtics players sat in a line at their lockers, icing their feet, and closely observing Clark’s performance. She made nine 3-pointers and scored 41 points, leading Iowa to a 94-87 win and securing a spot in the Final Four.
“How many 3s did she make?” one player asked. Upon hearing, it was nine, he shook his head in amazement and remarked, “Wow, that girl can play.”
“Caitlin Clark is dominating the basketball scene, not only in women’s basketball but also in men’s basketball,” stated Celtics forward Sam Hauser. “She’s incredibly talented. And she’s worth watching.”
It wasn’t until the final moments of the game, when Iowa secured the victory, that players changed out of their uniforms and headed for the showers, still discussing Clark’s performance.
Clark holds the record for the most points scored in NCAA Division I history, with 3,900 career points, ranking sixth on the all-time scoring list in college basketball across all divisions.
Hauser remembers many occasions when NBA players watched the men’s NCAA Tournament at their lockers, often supporting their alma maters. However, it’s rare for them to be so engrossed in a women’s game.
“I recall UConn dominating for years, but now women’s basketball is more competitive,” Hauser noted. “And (Clark) has certainly captured everyone’s attention.”
