CLEVELAND — Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark had never been to Cleveland before this week, but she's already feeling at home.
"It feels lowkey like just a bigger version of my hometown," the Des Moines, Iowa-born guard told reporters at a press conference ahead of the NCAA Women's Final Four. "It's just obviously a bigger city."
The all-time NCAA Division I scoring leader is not here for leisure; a spot in the NCAA Championship game is on the line when her Hawkeyes take on UConn in the second semifinal Friday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Still, she and her teammates have been able to do some sightseeing.
"It was super cool, we went to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last night," Clark said. "I think you could stay in there for about a week and still have more things to do."
While Clark has drawn huge throngs of awestruck fans to arenas all across the country on her collegiate goodbye tour this season, the surefire future first-overall WNBA draft pick is taking her talents to Cleveland for the first time. And she's already picked up her first trophy, winning the Naismith Women's College Basketball Player of the Year award at a ceremony held in Cleveland Browns Stadium.
"It's been awesome, honestly," Clark said. "I'm excited to play here."
Clark's record-breaking NCAA career has led some fans — and even opposing coaches — to forecast that she'll eventually go down as one of basketball's greatest players. It's not lost on Clark that she's about to ply her trade in the arena that once showcased another one of the sport's all-time greats.
"Obviously with LeBron James being like the face of Cleveland and being able to play here when he first started his NBA career, that's just super cool," Clark said.
Iowa will have to get through the nation's most successful program in NCAA women's basketball history to extend its stay in The Land. UConn, led by a superstar in her own right in Paige Bueckers, is back in the Final Four after being bounced in the Sweet 16 last year. Prior to that early exit, the Huskies had made the Final Four in 14 consecutive years dating back to 2008.
Clark and the Hawkeyes, fresh off smashing viewership records in their Elite Eight victory over LSU, already have Cleveland buzzing if the surge in ticket prices is any indication. They're hoping to be the talk of the town when a champion is crowned on Sunday.
"I think more than anything, we're just excited about the opportunity," Clark said, "and we're happy to be in Cleveland."