“To see a woman changing the game and growing the sport is awesome” – Pegula on basketball star Caitlin Clark

Clark’s University of Iowa team will take on South Carolina in the NCAA final on Sunday

Jessica Pegula at the WTA Charleston Open

April 6, 2024

Women’s college basketball star Caitlin Clark has been hitting the headlines, with her profile and the profile of women’s college basketball skyrocketing in recent months.

Clark has been drawing record number of fans to watch women’s college basketball and is also gaining a following among other sporting athletes, including the world’s fifth-highest ranked female tennis player Jessica Pegula, who also hails from the United States.

Clark, who plays for the University of Iowa, was named the Associated Press Player of the Year for the second consecutive time on Thursday and will be part of the Hawkeyes team that plays the NCAA Championship match against South Carolina on Sunday.

Caitlin Clark gave her advice to young girls after tonight’s win:

“Dream big, chase after everything you love, whether it’s a sport, whether it’s art, whether it’s music, go after it with everything you’ve got and don’t let anyone tell you, ‘you can’t.’” pic.twitter.com/FIn6kCyzhg
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) April 6, 2024

“I’ve definitely paid a lot more attention since Caitlin Clark, so I’ve been following a lot more,” Pegula said in Charleston where she is playing the WTA 500 event this week. “I feel like I have been hearing it a lot more, and it seems like I truthfully have just heard a lot more about it than the men’s side, which I think is really cool.”

“To see a woman changing the game and growing the sport is awesome,” Pegula said. “I’m definitely a big fan, and I’ve been following a lot more because of her. I’m not a super crazy fan, but obviously anyone — all the girl athletes that are playing, women athletes, it’s really fun to follow and see how they’re growing their sport.”