Before even stepping onto the pro court, former Iowa Hawkeyes standout rookie point guard Caitlin Clark, recently selected as the No. 1 pick in this year’s highly anticipated WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, has already garnered some remarkable comparisons to NBA stars.

All-Star Dallas Mavericks combo guard Luka Doncic joined in with high praise, particularly highlighting her shooting ability, as reported on ESPN’s SportsCenter Instagram. “That’s the women’s Steph Curry,” Doncic remarked, likening her impact to that of the Golden State Warriors’ All-Star point guard. “She can shoot it better than me.”

Clark’s 201 made three-pointers set an NCAA record for both women and men. She has shown a remarkable proficiency as a long-range shooter, although Doncic’s shooting percentage (38.2%) this season is slightly higher than Clark’s (37.8%). Doncic, a five-time All-Star, has been averaging 33.9 points on shooting splits of .487/.382/.786 this season, along with 9.8 assists, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. His 38.2% shooting rate comes from an impressive 10.6 attempts per game, almost matching his 13 two-point attempts.

During her 39 games with the 34-5 Hawkeyes last season, Clark averaged 31.6 points on shooting splits of .455/.378/.860, along with 8.9 assists, 7.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. Her 13.6 three-point attempts significantly outnumbered her 9.1 two-point attempts.

Clark’s impact on the college game resembled that of Curry before her. Much like the Golden State superstar, she is a prolific long-range shooter and an effective distributor, forcing defenses to respect her from anywhere on the court, thus opening up opportunities for her teammates.

Now, with her selection by the Fever, where she’ll be teaming up with 2023 No. 1 draft pick Aliyah Boston, a subsequent All-Star and Rookie of the Year, Clark aims to transition her success to the professional level, akin to Curry’s seamless transition from his days at Davidson.

The world eagerly anticipates Clark’s next move. Having recently signed a lucrative deal with Nike and already slated for a signature sneaker, her final college game, a highly-watched 87-75 loss to fellow top draft pick Kamilla Cardoso and the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks, was the most-watched in women’s college basketball history. While her impact on a team that finished 13-27 last year remains to be seen, all eyes will be on her journey in the WNBA.