Caitlin Clark, the standout player from Iowa, surprised audiences by appearing on 'Saturday Night Live' during the 'Weekend Update' segment. The Iowa star revealed that she first learned about the possibility of her appearance at the Final Four, although discussions had been ongoing for a couple of weeks.
Clark expressed her excitement about the experience, mentioning that she only saw the script upon arrival and found it to be very good. She particularly enjoyed the opportunity to address misconceptions about women's sports and was thrilled by the positive reception from the audience. Describing it as a bucket list item, Clark admitted to feeling more nervous than she does before a basketball game.
Currently in New York for the upcoming WNBA draft, where she is expected to be the top pick by the Indiana Fever, Clark's appearance on 'Saturday Night Live' was prompted by a joke made by anchor Michael Che about Iowa retiring her jersey. In a humorous turn of events, Clark shared jokes she had written that poked fun at Che, earning laughs from the audience.
During her time on the show, Clark also took a moment to reflect on her basketball journey and express gratitude to the trailblazing players who paved the way for her success. She acknowledged the contributions of legends such as Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, Dawn Staley, and Maya Moore, emphasizing their role in breaking barriers for future generations.
Following her appearance, Clark returned to the stage with her former Hawkeye teammates, Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, and Jada Gyamfi, sharing the special moment with them. She mentioned that her teammates were initially surprised but ultimately thrilled to join her on stage at the end of the show.
Clark watched the first half of the show from the dressing room to maintain the surprise for fans and later enjoyed musical guest Chris Stapleton's performance from the set after her segment. The appearance on 'Saturday Night Live' marked a memorable moment in a busy week for Clark, following her team's loss in the national championship game and various celebratory events.
As she continues to make waves in the basketball world, Clark's appearance on the iconic show added another highlight to her impressive career.
