MINNEAPOLIS — There was a calm before the Caitlin Clark craze Wednesday night at Williams Arena.
“Everyone is talking about it,” said local artist Kickliy, who was painting amongst the still empty arena. “It’s always cool to see the Barn alive and that’s been the most fun this year.”
He’s known to paint Minnesota sports teams and local athletes, focusing on Clark now who’s being called college basketball’s greatest player.
Fans traveled as far as Alberta, Canada and paid hundreds of dollars for a ticket to see the game between Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes and the Golden Gophers.
“I just think we’re at a place we’ve never been before, but we’ve been building,” said sports commentator Holly Rowe. “It’s like this perfect crescendo and we’re at the crest right now.”
Rowe has been with ESPN in some capacity since 1995.
“A little girl from West Des Moines, Iowa is doing more for sports right now than Steph Curry,” said Rowe.
Clark is selling out games and breaking records. She now owns the women’s scoring record for any major college player after scoring 33 on Wednesday to surpass Lynette Woodard on the all-time list.
“Being a hometown fan, I’d rather be talking about the Gophers like this, you know, but it’s putting eyes on the sport,” said Kickliy.
Perhaps creating more of a movement rather than a moment, scoring big along the way.
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