Caitlin Clark discusses her decision to turn down the opportunity to join the top-ranked team after having visited on several occasions.

1. Caitlin Clark has openly shared her reasons for rejecting Notre Dame, a decision that has proven to be fortuitous, as her tenure at Iowa State significantly accelerated her rise to receiving the WNBA Rookie of the Year honor. The standout player for the Indiana Fever impressed audiences with her remarkable debut season, captivating attention both on and off the basketball court.

Had it not been for her four years of skill development at Iowa State, Clark’s rapid rise may have remained unrealized. She earned the esteemed AP Player of the Year award for two consecutive years and currently holds the title of the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history with an impressive total of 3,951 points.

During my exploration of various options, I recognized that my preference was to remain in the Midwest. As a person who values family, it was important for me to stay relatively close to home, which considerably limited my choices,” Clark articulated. “I had the opportunity to visit Oregon, Texas, and several other locations. While I found them appealing, I ultimately felt that they were too distant.

While evaluating my options, I realized that I wanted to remain in the Midwest. Being a family-oriented individual, I preferred to stay relatively close to home, which naturally narrowed my choices, Clark noted. He mentioned visiting Oregon, Texas, and several other locations, which he found appealing, but ultimately regarded them as too distant.

Clark recounted visiting Notre Dame multiple times, expressing his admiration for the institution. “As a child, one dreams of attending Notre Dame. It is steeped in tradition and has produced numerous exceptional athletes across various sports. However, I sensed an internal conviction that it was not my destined path, leading me to choose Iowa.

Before my arrival, Iowa had experienced considerable success in women’s basketball, reaching the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, though they had not advanced to the Final Four since 1992. I sought an institution that had a strong program but had not maintained ‘blue blood’ status for several years, where I could contribute to revitalizing their success.

The location was ideally situated; it prevented my parents from visiting unexpectedly while still allowing me the opportunity to return home occasionally. It all seemed to align perfectly, and I believe my choice turned out to be a favorable one.

Clark completed her entire college basketball career with the Hawkeyes, establishing herself as the all-time leading scorer in the history of college basketball, encompassing both men’s and women’s divisions. During her time at Iowa, she also formed a relationship with Connor McCaffrey, a fellow Hawkeyes basketball player.

The Fever star discussed her remarkable experiences in 2024 during the podcast, expressing to the Kelces that the year had been transformative.