With the women’s Final Four approaching on Friday night, all eyes are on the highly anticipated matchup between Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes facing off against Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies.

As expected, Molly Qerim and the First Take crew weighed in on the matchup.

While Qerim typically doesn’t interject her opinions strongly, she made a revealing statement on Thursday regarding Clark and the surrounding hype.

ESPN’s Molly Qerim suggested that the current focus on Caitlin Clark might not be as intense if Paige Bueckers hadn’t missed significant time due to injuries over two seasons.

“If Paige Bueckers didn’t essentially miss two seasons, I’m not sure we’d be discussing Caitlin Clark in the same light,” Qerim expressed.

This discussion arose following Stephen A. Smith’s comparison of Clark to Stephen Curry while debating whether she deserves the title of the “GOAT” if Iowa secures the national title.

Qerim emphasized that Clark and the Hawkeyes will be facing a UConn team weakened by injuries in Cleveland on Friday.

“All I can say is she’s fortunate that this UConn team isn’t at full strength, and that’s a fact,” Qerim asserted.

Smith disagreed, stating, “That’s incorrect, Molly,” pushing back against Qerim’s assertion.

“That sounds like making excuses. You wouldn’t be saying that if it wasn’t UConn.”

“A guilty conscience needs no accuser,” Qerim responded.

After Clark’s freshman year at Iowa ended with a Sweet 16 loss to UConn, she now has the opportunity for revenge for the second consecutive game, having already secured it in the Elite 8 by scoring 41 points to defeat the LSU Tigers.

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Last year’s NCAA women’s basketball championship set an all-time ratings record for a women’s game on ESPN as it pitted Angel Reese against Caitlin Clark.

The rematch of the game on Monday averaged 12.3 million viewers for ESPN, the largest TV audience ever for a women’s basketball game in the United States, via the Hollywood Reporter.

Clark moving on to the Final Four is good for everybody.