Caitlin Clark’s school profession ended Sunday with a loss to South Carolina in the nationwide championship. But the Iowa star’s recognition gained’t be going away.

“I know what’s next is soon,” she mentioned.

Eight days, to be actual.

That’s when Clark can be in New York for the WNBA Draft, the place she’s anticipated to be the No. 1 decide by the Indiana Fever. After rising to nationwide prominence throughout her collegiate profession, there are already indicators that she’s going to make an influence in the skilled league.

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What to find out about the WNBA Draft

The draft will happen at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on April 15. ESPN will air the draft and it’ll additionally stream on Fubo.
Here’s the first-round order of the draft:

1. Indiana Fever
2. Los Angeles Sparks
3. Chicago Sky (through Phoenix)
4. Los Angeles Sparks (through Seattle)
5. Dallas Wings (through Chicago)
6. Washington Mystics
7. Minnesota Lynx
8. Chicago Sky (through Atlanta)
9. Dallas Wings
10. Connecticut Sun
11. New York Liberty
12. Atlanta Dream (through Las Vegas)

What type of influence will Clark make in the WNBA?

Let’s begin on the court docket. Clark must work more durable for her shot, in fact. (Don’t assume these veterans aren’t licking their chops to close her down.) But her seemingly limitless vary and astounding accuracy will nonetheless make her robust to protect. Where she will make an instantaneous influence is her passing.

She’s already one among the finest all-time passers in school, ending her profession with a Division I document of 1,144 assists. Clark’s Iowa teammates weren’t all the time adept down low at changing her passes. Now think about what Aliyah Boston, the 2023 Rookie of the Year, will do with incoming eager passes from Clark.

In phrases of promoting and star energy, the WNBA higher be ready. The Fever are seeing spikes in ticket gross sales, and the Las Vegas Aces already introduced shifting to an even bigger area to accommodate extra followers when she involves city. Last season, the Fever had the second lowest attendance in the league, forward of solely Atlanta, which performs in a a lot bigger area and averaged 85 % capability. The Fever probably can be one among the hottest fan locations.

Similar to her expertise at Iowa, Fever highway video games ought to see document numbers, too. The Hawkeyes offered out all however two of their video games this season — house, highway or postseason. Her followers aren’t going wherever.

Will she lose cash by going to the WNBA?

This narrative has been shot down a number of instances over, however it nonetheless persists by some who don’t consider her endorsement energy. Clark has the most high-profile endorsement offers of any school basketball participant. (You’ve seen the State Farm advertisements, proper?) Those aren’t going away, and count on a profitable sneaker deal to be coming her manner.

GO DEEPER

The Caitlin Clark enterprise is booming. Here’s how her WNBA sponsorships are lining up

As the presumptive No. 1 choice, she can be assured $76,535 in her first season. (She didn’t make a wage at Iowa.) She also can make as much as $250,000 in a league advertising deal and as much as $100,000 in a group advertising contract if she opts to not play overseas next WNBA offseason. If she does go overseas, she will count on a profitable contract from a group in Europe or China.

But along with her advertising energy, she’s more likely to be signed to much more endorsement offers.

Did Clark should go professional?

No. Like different seniors, Clark was granted an additional season of eligibility by the NCAA due to the pandemic disruption. She introduced on Feb. 29 that she wouldn’t be returning to Iowa City, elevating the stakes to exit with a bang in the event.

Who else can be in the draft?

Look for The Athletic’s post-tournament mock draft coming in a number of days. But different potential stars are anticipated to listen to their names referred to as.

South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, Stanford’s Cameron Brink and Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson are anticipated to be early picks. LSU’s Angel Reese is anticipated to be picked round No. 8.

GO DEEPER

WNBA Mock Draft: Where will Angel Reese land? Who can be picked after Caitlin Clark?

Required studying

(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)