From our archives: Caitlin Clark starred with Dowling, Team USA

Anyone who saw Caitlin Clark play as *** dowling Catholic freshman last year knew she was something special. *** lot of talented people in the United States. So I knew it would be really tough to make the team. But I thought if I just played my game and did everything I was capable of, I had *** good shot of making the team. Not only did she make the team, I had to get my passport. We've done since then is get better. I took my finals early and then I headed to Colorado Clark won gold with team USA knowing beyond me, I guess. And it says first One place though, which is 1st place.

Editor's note: This story originally ran in 2018 when Caitlin Clark was a sophomore at Dowling Catholic who had just won a gold medal with the under-16 Team USA national squad. Clark, now a junior at Iowa, has led the Hawkeye women to the Sweet 16 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament and is a finalist for the Naismith Trophy, which goes to the nation's most outstanding women's college basketball player. Anyone who saw Caitlin Clark play as a Dowling Catholic freshman last year knew she was something special. All she's done since then is get better."I took my finals early, headed to Colorado."Clark spent part of her sophomore summer trying out for the under-16 Team USA national squad."I knew there's a lot of talented people in the US, so I knew it would be really tough to make the team. but I knew if I played my game and did everything I was capable of, I could make the team."Not only did she make the squad ..."I had to get my passport on rush delivery because I didn't have a passport - I'd never left the country before."Clark won a gold medal with Team USA under-16 squad."My gold medal is really important to me."How to watch the Iowa women in the Sweet 16Her play has college coaches planning trips to West Des Moines."I want to take my game to the next level. Not only be a great basketball player but be a great person and leave a good legacy."And national pundits swooning. She is currently ranked as the best player in the country in the class of 2020 by ESPN."That's cool, but you still have to keep your head down and keep working hard and look for better things and want more."She also knows there are people from coast to coast chasing her."I want to be great. I know everybody around me is working just as hard as I am. I know that there's somebody that wants to be as good as me every day. I have great opportunities and I should go after them."It's a long wait until signing day. And Clark says her focus is decidedly short-term:"I like to focus on having a good sophomore year. We have a chance to be really good."More on Caitlin Clark:'She sees the game differently': Caitlin Clark's dad, former coach reflect on her early basketball careerCaitlin Clark inspires young and old fans alikeCaitlin Clark's high school teammates discuss her impact

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa —

Anyone who saw Caitlin Clark play as a Dowling Catholic freshman last year knew she was something special. All she's done since then is get better.

"I took my finals early, headed to Colorado."

Clark spent part of her sophomore summer trying out for the under-16 Team USA national squad.

"I knew there's a lot of talented people in the US, so I knew it would be really tough to make the team. but I knew if I played my game and did everything I was capable of, I could make the team."

Not only did she make the squad ...

"I had to get my passport on rush delivery because I didn't have a passport - I'd never left the country before."

Clark won a gold medal with Team USA under-16 squad.

"My gold medal is really important to me."

How to watch the Iowa women in the Sweet 16

Her play has college coaches planning trips to West Des Moines.

"I want to take my game to the next level. Not only be a great basketball player but be a great person and leave a good legacy."

And national pundits swooning. She is currently ranked as the best player in the country in the class of 2020 by ESPN.

"That's cool, but you still have to keep your head down and keep working hard and look for better things and want more."

She also knows there are people from coast to coast chasing her.

"I want to be great. I know everybody around me is working just as hard as I am. I know that there's somebody that wants to be as good as me every day. I have great opportunities and I should go after them."

It's a long wait until signing day. And Clark says her focus is decidedly short-term:

"I like to focus on having a good sophomore year. We have a chance to be really good."