Kim Mulkey isn’t shedding tears that Caitlin Clark will soon be heading to the WNBA.
After Clark and Iowa eliminated Mulkey and LSU on Monday night in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, the Lady Tigers’ coach complimented Iowa’s iconic sharpshooter.
“What did I say to her?” Mulkey said. “I said, ‘I sure am glad you’re leaving. Girl, you’re something else. Never seen anything like it.’”
Kim Mulkey speaks postgame after LSU’s loss to Iowa.X/NCAA Tournament
Mulkey has seen first-hand in each of the last two tournaments why Clark is the greatest scorer in NCAA history, and this time, her squad couldn’t down the Hawkeyes, who defeated the Tigers 94-87 on Monday.
Last season, LSU topped Iowa in the title game, 102-85, despite 30 points and eight rebounds from Clark.
On Monday, Clark torched LSU for 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. The Lady Tigers had no answers for Clark, who shot 13-of-29 from the field and 9-of-20 from deep.
Clark’s nine 3-pointers tied the NCAA Women’s Tournament record.
Kim Mulkey and LSU had no answers for Caitlin Clark.Getty Images
Caitlin Clark scored 41 points against LSU.AP
Clark particularly torched in the third quarter after the teams entered the break even at 45-all. She hit four three-pointers to help give Iowa a 69-58 lead entering the fourth quarter.
“There’s not a whole lot of strategy,” Mulkey said when asked about defending Clark. “You got to guard her, nobody else seems able to guard her. We didn’t even guard her last year when we beat them. She’s just a generational player and she just makes everybody around her better. That’s what the great ones do.
“I think they had a kid that scored 21 (Kate Martin) and 18 (sic; 16; Sydney Affolter), (Clark) had 12 assists. Caitlin Clark is not going to beat you herself. It’s what she does to make those other teammates better that helps her score points and them score points to beat you.”
With Clark ending LSU’s season, the Lady Tigers fell three wins short of becoming the first reigning national champion to repeat since UConn four-peated from 2013-16.
