Caitlin Clark explains why she was ‘really upset’ at WNBA draft

Caitlin Clark’s draught nighttime wasn’t each it was cracked up to be.

The Fever defender recalled emotion “so upset” aft Indiana selected her pinch nan No. 1 wide prime successful nan 2024 WNBA Draft, which took spot astatine nan Brooklyn Academy of Music connected April 15.

“I was truthful upset because aft I sewage drafted I conscionable sewage supplier retired immediately and I didn’t get to spot immoderate of nan draft,” Clark said connected nan “Fresh Talk” podcast pinch her erstwhile Iowa teammates, Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall and big Jada Gyamfi, who is simply a inferior guardant for nan Hawkeyes.

“I had my telephone but I really couldn’t spell connected it. It made maine truthful upset. I didn’t moreover get to spot Kate get drafted … but it made maine really upset,” Clark continued.

“Then we went and had nosy but … I didn’t even return pictures pinch you guys, my family, [boyfriend] Connor McCaffery — nary one.”  

Martin attended this year’s WNBA draught to support Clark and coiled up getting selected by nan Las Vegas Aces pinch nan No. 18 wide pick.

The Iowa merchandise was sitting successful nan crowd taking successful nan draft, erstwhile WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called her sanction successful nan 2nd round.

Clark’s acquisition astatine nan WNBA draught was different for a number of reasons.

The erstwhile All-American defender was caller disconnected of a historical profession astatine Iowa, which included back-to-back trips to nan Final Four successful 2023 and 2024.

In her elder twelvemonth pinch nan Hawkeyes, Clark became nan NCAA’s Division I all-time starring scorer for men’s and women’s basketball.

When she arrived successful Brooklyn, Clark was already a family sanction whose fame was quickly mounting.

It’s besides normal for nan No. 1 prime successful immoderate draught to beryllium whisked distant from photos and interviews, among different obligatory duties.

As Clark mentioned, nan group went retired and had nosy aft nan draft.

Clark, McCaffery, Marshall, Martin and Gyamfi enjoyed celebratory drinks astatine The Fleur Room, a glass-encased lounge connected Moxy Chelsea’s 35th floor, which features 360-degree views of nan Manhattan skyline, from nan Statue of Liberty to nan Empire State Building.

Raina Harmon, an adjunct coach for nan Hawkeyes, was besides seen pinch nan group successful photos connected societal media astatine nan time.

Clark went connected to break a number of records successful her rookie twelvemonth and made nan WNBA All-Star squad en way to winning nan 2024 WNBA Rookie of nan Year award.

She has yet to decide if she will subordinate nan Unrivaled League, a caller 3-on-3 convention founded by nan Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and nan Lynx’s Napheesa Collier — which takes spot successful nan WNBA offseason.

The convention reportedly has offered Clark much than $1 cardinal positive revenue-sharing opportunities.