Caitlin Clark has opened up about her remarkable journey towards the WNBA, recalling how she first penned down her aspiration to play at the pinnacle of women’s basketball when she was just in second grade.

With her phenomenal college career, Clark is poised to be the top pick in Monday’s WNBA draft, propelled by her stellar performance that led the Iowa Hawkeyes to consecutive national championship games.

Emerging as the standout player in college basketball, the 22-year-old has embraced the spotlight as she transitions into the professional realm.

‘I think when you want to be one of the best players in the world, that just kind of comes with it,’ she told NBC News.

‘This is something I wrote down on a piece of paper when I was in second grade: “Get a basketball scholarship, play in the WNBA” — this is always something I wanted to do.’

Caitlin Clark has shared insights into her journey towards the WNBA draft, describing it as a ‘wild ride’ as she prepares for the upcoming event on Monday.

The Indiana Fever is anticipated to pick Clark in the draft, with indications that season tickets are already selling briskly in Indianapolis.

At 22 years old, Clark acknowledges that transitioning into professional basketball will present a learning curve, but she remains confident, recognizing that she has rightfully earned her place in this moment.

“I always remind myself: you’re not here by accident,” she stated.

Clark achieved historic milestones with the Hawkeyes, notably becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and playing a pivotal role in attracting record viewership to Iowa games.

The Hawkeyes’ appearance in this year’s national championship game against South Carolina garnered significant attention, drawing a TV audience of 18.7 million, surpassing the viewership of the men’s final between UConn and Purdue by 4 million. Additionally, the WNBA draft sold out within 15 minutes.

Clark grew to become the biggest star in college basketball while on the Iowa Hawkeyes

Caitlin Clark @CaitlinClark22 sat down with @stephgosk to speak out about feeling confident going into her WNBA future, remembering writing out her basketball dreams on a piece of paper in 2nd grade, appearing on ‘SNL’ @nbcsnl and more. @IowaWBB #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/Rh4c1Gf0Nh — TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 15, 2024

‘You’re late to the party,’ she told new fans of the sport. ‘Once we’ve been really given an opportunity to show the product, people have really loved it and want to invest in it even more.’

She added: ‘Let’s continue to bring (fans) in and want them to keep coming back for more. Clark said being a role model to young girls is ‘the reason’ she plays.

‘Understanding how big of an impact that can have on a young girl’s life is super important,’ she added. ‘So I always try to make as much time as I can for them. And just to see them scream your name or have your jersey on — that’s something that never gets old.’

Clark’s soaring profile saw her make a cameo on Saturday Night Live over the weekend.

The basketball star made a shock appearance on Saturday Night Live ahead of the WNBA draft

‘I don’t get nervous for basketball games,’ she said. ‘But going in front of a live audience on national television, doing something outside of your comfort zone, is a little scary. My heart was pounding out of my chest.’

The 22-year-old is slated to make her WNBA debut in May, just a few months out from the Olympics. And Clark said it would ‘mean everything’ to pull on the United States jersey in Paris.

‘That was one of my dreams as a kid… growing up, you always want to be an Olympic gold medalist,’ she said. ‘Lucky enough, I’ve been able to play for a few junior national teams in their basketball system, so I know how special it is to represent USA across your chest.’

Clark added: ‘Being able to do that on the highest level would certainly be a dream come true.’