Iowa women’s basketball coach Jan Jensen is highly impressed with Caitlin Clark’s performance in the WNBA. The new Hawkeyes’ coach, who previously served as the associate head coach, commended their former player for her outstanding play and leadership.
“That kid is good, and she can pass it, and she makes you better,” Jensen said in an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio. “She just wants to freaking win. And she believes that to win, it has to be her way.”
Jensen compared Clark’s winning mentality to that of basketball legends Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. “It has to be this pass then, and this shot now. Does that not sound like Kobe or Michael?” Jensen added. “The great ones are like that.”
Clark, who led Iowa to two national championship games, has had a promising start to her WNBA career with the Indiana Fever. Despite a rocky start, including a double-digit turnover game, Clark has been instrumental in helping the Fever win six of their last 10 games, bringing their record to 7-12.
Clark is averaging 16 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season and is a strong contender for the league’s Rookie of the Year award, competing with players like Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese. She has scored in double figures for five consecutive games, including a 23-point performance in a victory over the Sky.
The Fever have lost their last two games, so Clark will need to continue stepping up as the team fights for a playoff spot. Their next game is against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.
Iowa Women’s Basketball Without Clark
Iowa women’s basketball will miss Clark’s production this season. Jan Jensen, stepping into the head coach role after 24 years as the associate head coach, faces the challenge of leading the team back to the NCAA tournament.
Jensen, who played at Drake and was the NCAA’s leading scorer in 1991, has extensive experience in women’s college basketball. Iowa’s season starts in November against Northern Illinois, with a challenging non-conference schedule that includes Virginia Tech, Kansas, and Tennessee.
Hawkeyes fans will miss Clark, but they are hopeful that Jensen can continue the program’s success and adapt to the changes.