The women’s college basketball world had all of 24 hours to fixate on what might have seemed like a paradigm-shifting development.
For the first time in nearly two decades, UConn lost in the Sweet 16, a tourney exit that had long seemed unthinkable for the powerhouse. But there was little time to linger on whether this signaled the death of a dynasty or what that meant for the sport. Because there was something far more exciting to discuss in just a day: Caitlin Clark’s transcendent performance to propel No. 2 Iowa past No. 5 Louisville in the Elite Eight. It was the first 30-point triple double in NCAA tournament history, men’s or women’s, and, for good measure, Clark made it the first 40-point triple double, too. Who’s interested in eulogizing a dynasty when you can marvel at that?
It was a sign of what’s in play here. Yes, the women’s game is changing, and traditional heavyweights do not occupy the space they once did. But the sport is better for it—because it means there’s a slew of other exciting players and story lines to focus on.
