What Indiana Fever No. 1 Pick Caitlin Clark Said at Her Introductory Press Conference

Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark was selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft. On Wednesday, Clark made her way to Indianapolis to have her introductory press conference with the Indiana Fever. Here's what she had to say.

April 17, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark, former Iowa Hawkeye standout / Indianapolis Star-USA TODAY NETW

On Monday night, the Indiana Fever selected Iowa star Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The organization is hoping that Clark, along with last year's top selection, Aliyah Boston, can bring a league championship back to Indianapolis.

Wednesday, two days after she was selected, Clark appeared at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for her introductory press conference. Here's what the former Hawkeye and newest member of the Fever had to say.

Caitlin Clark's opening statement ...

"I'm really excited to be here. I've never had to give an opening statement before, so this is a first for me — and a large crowd. Like I said, I'm super happy to be here. Thank you to the Fever, the Pacers — this is a dream come true. These are the moments you dream of. Obviously, Tamika is here. That's pretty incredible. Someone I grew up idolizing.

"Like I said after I got drafted, I can't think of a better place for myself to start my career. A place that loves basketball, supports women's basketball and an organization that really does things the right way and has a championship pedigree. So, I'm just thankful that they have a belief in me. ... Couldn't be happier to be here. Thank all of you for coming and I can't wait to get started."

On what she's most excited about with joining the Fever ...

"I think there's just so much talent on this roster and I'm very thankful — Aliyah (Boston) has been one of my teammates before with Team USA Basketball and I know firsthand how great she is. Erica Wheeler, somebody who's been having my back and we're not even really teammates yet. I'm super excited about that. As a point guard, you need somebody to lean on and have your back and ask questions. I don't have all the answers, not everything is gonna be perfect, so, gonna need people like that to surround myself with and I think this team and this organization is the perfect example of that."

On the role Indiana having the No. 1 pick played in her decision to turn pro ...

"Yeah, it definitely played a role. I actually played at the exact same time of the draft lottery on the night it happened. I'm not exactly sure who we were playing but I was hoping Indiana would get the first pick, it would have made my life a lot better. When I saw that, I was pretty excited.

"Obviously, that's not every single reason why I wanted to leave and be done with college. I was ready for a new challenge and something new in my life. It felt like I had done everything had Iowa that I possibly could and we did a lot of amazing things. To be able to come here and stay in the Midwest and it's only five hours from Iowa City, seven hours from where I grew up. You really can't script it any better. It was really a no-brainer for me."

On 6,000 people showing up to the Fever Draft Watch Party ...

"I think it just speaks to the excitement of what this summer is gonna bring. Like you said, women's basketball in this state is incredible. Grace (Berger) knows that better than anybody else. I hated playing at Indiana and they hate me, so hopefully a lot of them turn into Indiana Fever fans.

"They hated me for good reason. It's a hard place to win at. I mean, 6,000 people to stare at a screen and see who gets picked in the draft is pretty incredible. I expect big numbers this summer. I think people couldn't be more excited about where this organization is going with the people on this roster and the potential. But women's basketball, in general, people know it's special, people know this draft class was special — the talent across the board. I think it's just gonna continue to elevate the league and take it to greater heights."

On having Aliyah Boston as a teammate ...

"I think, obviously, Aliyah having the experience of being a No. 1 pick and going to organization where they expect a lot of you will be somebody I can lean on and ask questions, but I think that goes for everybody in this organization, top to bottom. I don't think it has to be one person. There are a lot of people here to support me.

"I think that goes right into the pressure thing. I certainly know there's pressure there, that's been my entire career. For me, I just have fun playing basketball. I know this is a team sport, it's not all about me. When I've been able to understand that, it's allowed me to play my best. I think it's just using your resources, asking questions. Not everything is going to be perfect and giving myself a little grace. I'm a perfectionist but I'm at my best when I allow myself a little grace and not expecting everything to go how it should. At the same time, that's what allowed me to be so great."

On keeping everything in perspective ...

"It's definitely hard. At times, it doesn't feel real, is the biggest thing. I feel like I'm stuck in a dream at times. I don't know, the biggest thing I try to remember is how grateful I am to have this opportunity. There are so many people who would kill to be in my shoes. When things seem like they're long and they're tired and I have to do this, I have to do that, I try to remind myself how grateful I am. I'm lucky to have these moments and it can all be taken away from you in a second. So, just enjoy every single second of it, give it my best and I think that will go well for me."

On how she hopes to inspire the younger generation in Indianapolis ...

"I think the biggest thing is just continue to be yourself. When I was growing up, my parents allowed me to be myself, they never told me I couldn't accomplish anything. I grew up playing basketball with the boys, and to me, I never thought that was different or weird, it was just what I did.

"I went out there, I competed hard. I feel like that's a lot of the reason I am who I am today. I had this constant confidence in myself and I feel like that's a thing a lot of young girls struggle with today, just having the confidence to achieve whatever they want. That's the biggest thing. It's really the support system around them to instill that confidence."

On where she hopes the league is when she leaves ...

"That's a really good question. Honestly, I feel like it's hard to really imagine what the league can be, because I feel like it's a place where a lot of people can't even wrap their head around. That's where I think it can go.

"The new media rights deal that can be negotiated can be life-changing for a lot of players in this league. It's gonna be a huge deal. This is the most competitive league in the world. There's 144 spots, but really there's not 144 spots, it's really less than that. I think the biggest thing is just continue to give it an opportunity and continue to attract fans from the college game."

On the pride she had in Iowa's accomplishments during her career ...

"What we were able to accomplish there was super special. To be a kid from Des Moines, Iowa and go two hours away to college and go to a place that hadn't been the Final Four since 1993 with C. Vivian Stringer — obviously she had a lot of amazing teams. I think the biggest thing Dr. (Christine) Grant was on the forefront of Title IX. The University of Iowa was on the forefront of Title IX.

"To me, I think it's one of the only places in the country that supports women's sports for 50 years consistently, across the board. Not just women's basketball. You go to the University of Iowa and every single sport is supported in the exact same way. I think that's exactly what women's sports can be in our country, giving them the resources, giving them the opportunity and investing in the exact same way. That was a huge reason I went there.

"But to accomplish what we accomplished, it comes with a little more sense of pride to wear Iowa across your chest and know you're representing the state that has supported you for so long. I know there's thousands of new Fever fans. They're passionate about women's basketball — they've been passionate about women's basketball. Those fans don't just say it, they'll constantly show up and support. They know what's happening, they get rowdy, get fired up, so they're good fans to have and I expect a lot of them to be in the building next season."

On who she grew up dreaming of playing against ...

"I grew up loving the Minnesota Lynx. I probably shouldn't say that anymore, and Tamika Catchings, of course. That was obviously the closest WNBA team to where I grew up. Minneapolis was four hours from my house. Obviously, they had a dynasty there that was really easy to cheer for."

On her Saturday Night Live experience ...

"I was terrified for a three-minute skit. But it was incredible. I actually flew from (Los Angeles) to New York and went right to the set. I woke up at 7 a.m. in L.A. and obviously the show doesn't start until 11, so I was just chugging (Coca-Cola) all night, trying to stay awake — coffee, soda. It was fun. They kinda just throw you right into the fire. I know I said I wrote the jokes, I didn't write the jokes. I'm not that funny. It was good, it was a good platform for women's sports. Everybody loved it. ... I was so nervous behind the set, like my heart was about to explode out of my chest. But it was a good little skit. Hopefully I can do it again."

On what she's looking forward to most about Indianapolis ...

"Honestly, this might sound very small city of me, but like ... it's a little bit bigger than Des Moines. That's what I'm most excited about. I'm not like a huge city girl. I feel like this is the perfect spot for me — a place that loves basketball, but more than anything, this is in the Midwest. People might think I'm crazy for wanting to stay in the Midwest, but that's just who I am, that's where my roots are. I love the people here."

On playing for Fever coach Christie Sides ...

"That was a big bonus for me and a big plus — a coach who really loves women's basketball and wants to make it great. But also who is gonna push her players. That's exactly what I want. Being coached is the biggest thing that allowed me to be where I am today.

"(Iowa) Coach (Lisa) Bluder never stopped coaching me. No matter how many wins we had, no matter how many points I scored, she just coached me and always knew there was more. I think coach (Sides) thinks the same. There's a lot more she can get out of me. She'll probably yell at me for my defense at some point. I'll probably learn to love it at some point, I'm sure. Or make up with it with my offense. I'm just excited. It's a new chapter, it's new faces. I think that's the biggest thing, being able to listen and learn and being surrounded by so many amazing people."

On the underrated part of her game ...

"I think the part of my game underlooked the most is just my passing. I think everyone wants to fall in love with the scoring and the long threes, I think it's my passing. I love setting my teammates up for success. I feel like I can kinda see the game develop faster and before a play even occurs. I think my teammates kinda see that.

"And, obviously, I get to play with the best of the best in the world now. Why wouldn't I want to feed them the ball? Especially with Aliyah. I'm just like, layup, layup, layup. Give me an assist."

On her rookie goals in the WNBA ...

"Honestly I haven't really thought about it a ton. I think the biggest thing is we want to get back to the playoffs. I think that's the biggest thing. Win a lot of basketball games. I think for me, just continue being myself, have a lot of fun, give myself grace. I think everything else just takes care of itself when you just take care of your business.

"I want to help this organization win a lot. I feel like that's something I've been able to do at every single level I've played at. That's the biggest goal for every person in this room."