• 11 months ago
Lisa Bluder, Caitlin Clark
Transcript
00:00 [inaudible]
00:16 Move over, Kaitlin.
00:17 I'm going for it.
00:18 Jeez.
00:19 [inaudible]
00:24 First of all, we want to recognize the people in Perry, Iowa,
00:27 who are really struggling in their community and, you know,
00:31 we've been thinking about them a lot and sending prayers their way
00:34 in just a really, really horrific situation.
00:38 I'm really glad that Iowa could be here on the night that they're recognizing
00:43 C. Vivian Stringer.
00:45 As you know, C. Vivian spent 12 years at the University of Iowa.
00:50 I've always considered C. Vivian a friend, a mentor of mine.
00:54 I used to work her camps when I was at St. Ambrose
00:58 and come over to Iowa and work her camps.
01:00 So it's very meaningful for me to be able to be here to show our respects
01:05 for her unbelievable contribution to women's basketball in so many places.
01:11 Tonight's game I thought we played very well.
01:13 I thought we were in control mentally, physically.
01:17 This game I love that we had five people in double figures.
01:21 I love that we have 28 assists.
01:23 You know, Kaitlin again has another triple-double,
01:26 but I really am happy to see Gabby Marshall go 4-7 from three-point range.
01:30 Gabby works her tail off all the time on defense.
01:34 Sometimes she doesn't score a point and she has the highest plus/minus of anybody
01:37 because she works that hard on defense.
01:39 She contributes that much to our team.
01:41 So tonight I'm really happy for her to see that ball go through the net.
01:45 I also thought Kate Martin played really well, especially in the first half,
01:49 has 10 rebounds.
01:50 Sid has 10 rebounds.
01:51 I thought Kate had really good leadership out there for us.
01:55 It was just a really good all-around game.
01:58 I was really worried about the boards, really proud of our effort in the boards
02:01 tonight.
02:06 Question for Kaitlin.
02:07 Rutgers usually averages about 2,000 fans a game, hasn't had a sellout since 2006.
02:11 I'm just curious how gratifying it is for you to see a crowd this loud, large,
02:17 and knowing they're mostly here for you.
02:20 It's really cool.
02:21 Obviously, like Coach said, they're recognizing Stevie Stringer, too,
02:24 who did a lot of really great things for not only Rutgers,
02:27 not only the University of Iowa, but also just women's basketball in general.
02:30 It was special to be part of that, be able to take a picture with her.
02:34 The crowd was incredible.
02:35 I think they only opened the doors 55 minutes before.
02:38 We were looking around, we're like, "Where is everybody at?"
02:40 because we opened up two hours before, so it was a little different.
02:43 I thought the crowd was great.
02:45 A lot of little girls, probably the most I've seen in a long time, obviously,
02:49 at our place we always have a lot.
02:51 We don't get to come out to the East Coast much,
02:53 so this is a fun spot for us to come and play.
02:56 Just really special.
02:57 The cheer I got when I ran off the court was pretty awesome.
03:01 Those are some moments that you're just never going to forget.
03:03 Cool for me, for sure.
03:05 How was it having so many Iowa fans in the stands,
03:08 and in particular those folks in the first row who you were meeting with
03:11 at the end of the Monday?
03:13 Yeah, that was just my family.
03:15 I don't know if they should be in the front row right behind our bench
03:17 because they were pulling my hair at the end of the game, my two brothers.
03:22 It's just cool.
03:23 I feel like any time we go on the road there are a lot of Iowa fans.
03:26 It depends where we're playing at, obviously,
03:28 but it seems like we have fans all over the country,
03:30 and I think that's the coolest thing about women's basketball is the way it's grown
03:34 and the amount of people that have started to love Iowa women's basketball,
03:37 the way we play, the way we're together as a team, the way we support one another.
03:41 We just play a fun style of basketball that people love to watch.
03:45 It never really surprises me anymore how many Iowa fans there are,
03:48 little girls screaming in the stands.
03:50 I think it's something that we're starting to get used to,
03:52 starting to get used to sold-out crowds,
03:54 but it's not anything you ever take for granted.
03:56 Those are the moments you soak in and enjoy every time you have them.
04:02 You mentioned you were proud of rebounding tonight.
04:05 Over at Rutgers they got a triple-head monster where Destiny Adams,
04:09 these guys can go for double rebounds any given night.
04:12 I wanted to get your thoughts just on the rebounding night overall
04:17 and just how effective can this be used moving forward throughout the season?
04:24 It was one of our keys to the game is the rebounding aspect.
04:31 I just feel like you have to box them out so well
04:33 because they get really easy points off those offensive rebounds.
04:38 I was proud of our players' efforts in securing those rebounds.
04:43 [Inaudible]
05:07 Absolutely.
05:08 We saw it last year, too.
05:11 We're at Nebraska, we're at Maryland, and people have 22 signs up
05:15 and waiting, trying to get autographs at the end of the game.
05:18 I definitely see it.
05:21 I can't think of a better group to be role models than these women
05:24 that are up here with me right now and the rest of our team.
05:28 I think we've given people great role models,
05:30 and it's fun for them to cheer for us.
05:32 We had the New York City, Metro Iowa Hawkeye Club,
05:36 even though there was such a thing, and we had them here tonight.
05:42 Lisa, yesterday, the new NCAA media,
05:45 a lot of it was said about your title game last year, the 9.9.
05:50 I'm really hyped up.
05:51 When they announced that, did you kind of feel like a contributor?
05:58 I don't know if I felt like a contributor, Mel.
06:01 I just feel like -- first of all, I think all of us thought it might be a little
06:04 higher because they were estimating that women's basketball was really bringing
06:08 in about $100 million, but I think also we're very thankful.
06:11 It is a big jump, and it's not going to happen overnight,
06:14 but this just shows you the value of women's basketball.
06:17 Now we've given the price tag of $65 million, and quite honestly,
06:20 when they lump it with some other sports, because I think people thought
06:24 maybe we'd be a standalone, it's okay.
06:27 We've been carried by men's basketball and football for a long time.
06:30 Why not women's basketball carry some of these other sports too?
06:35 [Inaudible]
06:51 I think, one, it just takes a second out of my day to make somebody else's day,
06:56 whether you're a basketball player or whether you're, you know,
06:59 somebody that works at a grocery store.
07:01 You can always make somebody else's day, and I feel like that's how I was raised,
07:04 is go out of your way to show kindness to somebody else.
07:07 But also, I was just that young girl.
07:08 I remember going to games like this.
07:10 I remember wanting a high-five, wanting an autograph, wanting to catch a T-shirt.
07:14 So, you know, that does make your whole year, does make your week,
07:18 and it really takes a second out of your day.
07:20 And those are, like you said, those are moments they're going to remember
07:23 for a really long time and inspire them to maybe want to play basketball
07:26 or want to play soccer or play sport or be really good at whatever they want to be good at.
07:32 Congrats on the win.
07:36 Congrats on the win, everybody.
07:37 It's always good to see you all.
07:39 This is a question for Kaitlyn.
07:41 Watching the games, it's clear that you're inspiring
07:44 and impacting the next generation of girls and everybody,
07:47 including two of my teammates who have been to Iowa women's basketball camps.
07:52 Was there a moment where you kind of had a realization that you were a role model
07:55 and an inspiration to kids?
07:58 And what does it mean to you now to be able to kind of give back to them
08:00 and sign autographs, high-fives, pictures, all of that?
08:03 Yeah, I feel like -- I don't know if there's really been a moment.
08:05 I feel like it's been cool over my career.
08:08 Like I started playing in COVID, so nobody was around.
08:10 So it's kind of cool to see, like, the evolution of my career.
08:12 And now where we're at now, and I started playing in front of nobody,
08:15 and now it's a sold-out arena every time, basically,
08:17 whether we're on the road or at home.
08:19 So it's kind of hard for me to wrap my head around.
08:21 But, you know, like you said, it's the little girls that come to our games.
08:24 Like that's what it's all about.
08:26 You know, at the end of the day, I could have been three for 20,
08:29 and, you know, they probably still would have been screaming
08:30 and wanting my autograph.
08:31 And I think that's the coolest thing is you get to inspire them
08:33 and make their day.
08:35 And, you know, everybody on our team is such a good role model
08:37 and always going to go out of their way to, you know, inspire somebody else,
08:40 give them a second of our time.
08:42 And that's how the game grows.
08:44 That's always what I wanted, you know, my favorite players to do for me.
08:46 When I was younger, I remember going to a Lynx basketball game
08:49 and I met so many of the players.
08:51 And, you know, that stuck with me.
08:52 And I'm now 21, almost 22.
08:54 So, you know, those are just really cool, special moments
08:57 that people cherish forever.
08:59 Yeah, I got one from you, Coach.
09:01 I think you grew up somewhat close to Perry.
09:03 Mm-hmm, 40 miles.
09:04 Just your thoughts on obviously what happened there.
09:06 Yeah, like Coach said, I think our thoughts and prayers
09:09 are just with that community.
09:10 And, you know, the special thing about Iowa is how tight our communities are.
09:14 And I know they'll get through it.
09:16 And, yeah, like I grew up 40 minutes away.
09:19 You know, it gives me the chills that moment of silence before.
09:21 So, just thinking and praying for all those people affected.
09:24 And as you saw, we were wearing blue ribbons in support of them tonight.
09:27 And, yeah, definitely just a very hard, hard, tough situation.
09:31 And our thoughts and prayers just go out to them.
09:33 How much you've been around the game for a minute?
09:35 I mean, people are asking about the road show that is Iowa
09:39 and now it seems sellouts everywhere.
09:41 A lot of it has to do with what Kaitlin's done.
09:44 Just can you think of another time or another era that something's close to this
09:48 where a player seems to have gotten the attention and the interest from so many
09:52 fans on the road, not just at home?
09:55 That's a tough one.
09:56 You guys probably know the answer to that better than I do.
09:58 I mean, when you think of like Breonna Stewart
10:01 and, you know, what she did with UConn basketball,
10:03 I would probably think that's pretty similar.
10:07 You know, I'm not sure who to compare that type of star power to.
10:14 Kind of following on the same question, I mean, you've been in games when, you know,
10:18 the arenas were half full.
10:20 Do these girls --
10:21 Yeah, I might be an exaggerator.
10:24 All right.
10:25 I mean, do -- I mean, these girls could get used to this and that would be awesome.
10:31 I mean, do they know how -- I mean, how great this is?
10:35 I mean, do you ever have to remind them or not?
10:39 You know, I think we appreciate it.
10:41 I don't think we're used to it,
10:43 but I think we'd be disappointed if it wasn't there now, to be quite honest.
10:46 You know, because, you know, we've built it, we enjoy it, we want it to keep coming.
10:51 I mean, why would we not?
10:52 So we're enjoying it.
10:55 We know that it's going to be pretty hostile on the road many places.
10:58 And that's why -- because it was one of our emphases is to take control of this
11:02 game early and really not let the crowd get into it against us.
11:05 So, you know, it's a great thing for women's sports, for women's basketball,
11:11 and you see it all around the country.
11:13 You just see sellouts happening in places that never -- it never happened before.
11:17 And that's just -- it's a great time to be a women's basketball player.
11:20 [Inaudible]
11:37 Yeah, I know, obviously, Kaitlin gets a lot of attention,
11:40 but we talk about as a team, like, the light that shines on Kaitlin shines on this team.
11:43 And, you know, she can't go one on five.
11:46 I mean, she could try and do pretty well,
11:48 but people around her -- I mean, we all just play our roles really well.
11:52 And, like, we always talk about shining your role,
11:54 whether that's on the defensive end, getting rebounds,
11:57 or running in transition, whatever you do well, do it every night.
12:01 And just let that be your focus.
12:03 So I think this team does a really, really good job of just doing their role
12:07 to the best of their ability.
12:10 Rutgers, much like Iowa,
12:12 a team that really likes to push the pace and move in transition.
12:14 Does that affect your game planning at all for a team that likes to run as much as you do?
12:19 The fact that they like to run, does that change our game plan?
12:23 I mean, transition defense was definitely one of our keys, but also transition offense.
12:28 We thought we could push the ball on them as well.
12:30 But, yeah, they do a great job of pushing the ball,
12:32 and that's how they've scored points in the first quarter.
12:35 You know, we play it really at a high pace all the time,
12:38 and I feel like we're in really good shape
12:40 and that our players can keep going and are used to playing at that pace.
12:43 Some schools aren't used to playing against that pace,
12:45 and they can maybe keep up for a half, but they wear down after a while.
12:49 You can see that in their shooting percentages usually.
12:51 I'm not saying that that happened tonight.
12:53 I'm not sure, but definitely, you know, Rutgers is a good transition team.
12:58 Kaitlin, 29 points and a triple-double for you today.
13:01 What do you think went really well for you against Rutgers?
13:04 I think just overall, once we started getting stops,
13:07 especially in the second quarter, we were able to push a little bit.
13:10 I think especially when I get the rebound off the defensive stop,
13:13 we can push a little bit more.
13:15 But obviously, ten assists, that's my teammates making shots.
13:18 And like I said earlier, it's really good to see Gabby make some shots.
13:22 You know, she works so hard, and she really deserves it
13:24 and never complains, so I'm happy for her.
13:28 Yeah, just overall a really great team win.
13:30 A lot of people putting a lot of stats on the stat sheet
13:33 and everybody getting in, so that makes for a fun trip home.
13:37 Kaitlin, do you ever stop and think about your legacy
13:40 as you compile all these numbers or are you just so caught up in the season?
13:45 Yeah, I don't really think about it too much.
13:47 I think just not letting a single moment pass me by,
13:51 just enjoy every single second.
13:53 Yeah, I think it would be silly of me to worry about all that stuff
13:57 when I just go game to game, every single game in front of me,
14:00 just approach it one day at a time because, you know, every day is different.
14:03 Every day brings a great challenge.
14:05 It's a lot of fun for me, and I would never want to let one day just pass me by,
14:10 so just enjoy every single moment.
14:12 I'm not really worried about everything else right now.
14:15 Kaitlin, Sean, uninterrupted, I imagine it's surreal for you
14:18 to see all the black and yellow 22 jerseys, not only at home,
14:22 but especially on the road on a day like today.
14:25 Who were the players' jerseys that you wore growing up?
14:29 Oh, man, I think my Amour was like my go-to.
14:32 It was all the Minnesota Lynx players, Lindsey Whalen, Rebecca Brunson,
14:35 Maya Moore, Simone Augustus.
14:37 Like I was just their biggest fan, so I had all their jerseys.
14:40 That's who I'd go with.
14:42 Thank you.
14:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]