Iowa superstar Clark declares for WNBA draft
Sabres, Leafs coaches fined
Caitlin Clark, Iowa’s record-setting superstar who is closing in on the all-time NCAA scoring crown, declared Thursday for the 2024 WNBA Draft, where she’s widely expected to be the first overall pick.
Clark’s announcement came with one game remaining on No. 6 Iowa’s regular-season schedule, eliminating any speculation about whether the generational talent might return for a fifth collegiate season.
“While this season is far from over and we have a lot more goals to achieve, it will be my last one at Iowa,” Clark said. “It is impossible to fully express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me.”
The Indiana Fever hold the No. 1 selection in the April 15 draft, which is set to take place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and host fans for the first time in eight years.
Clark made her draft declaration less than 24 hours after she became the highest-scoring player in the history of major-college women’s basketball, passing Kansas great Lynette Woodard with a 33-point performance at Minnesota.
Earlier in February, Clark set the women’s scoring record in the NCAA, which did not govern the sport during Woodard’s playing career from 1977-81 and therefore doesn’t recognize her statistics.
Clark is now 18 points away from breaking Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA scoring record of 3,667 points, which he set at LSU from 1967-70. Clark, who hasn’t scored fewer than 24 points in a game this season, could set the new high mark Sunday at home against No. 2 Ohio State.
The 6-foot Clark, a senior guard, was eligible for a fifth season at Iowa due to the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver for the 2020-2021 season.
Clark’s 32.2 points and 8.7 assists per game both lead the nation. An NCAA championship this season would be the first for Clark, who led Iowa to the national championship game last year.
“None of this would have been possible without my family and friends who have been by my side through it all,” Clark said Thursday. “Because of all of you, my dreams came true.”
The NHL issued $25,000 fines each to Sabres coach Don Granato and Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe for separate instances of unprofessional conduct directed at officials.
The league deemed Thursday that both coaches crossed the line during games on Tuesday night.
Granato was issued a bench minor in the third period of Buffalo’s 3-2 loss at Florida, after questioning officials for penalizing Zach Benson for tripping, while suggesting they missed several calls against the Panthers earlier in the game.
“At some point, you’ve got to stand up for your team,” Granato said following the game in explaining what sent him over the top. “You’re put in that position as a coach. It’s a tough position to be in. But you can’t sit and watch.”
The same night in Toronto, Keefe was ejected in the final minutes of a 6-2 loss to the Golden Knights, which snapped the Leafs’ seven-game win streak.
“Not going there,” Keefe said in declining to explain what set him off. Keefe appeared to be upset by a tripping penalty assessed to Toronto forward Mitch Marner a few minutes before he was ejected, and shortly after the Leafs cut their deficit to 4-2.
They are the second and third coaches fined by the NHL this season, joining Ducks coach Greg Cronin, who was also fined $25,000 for the same reason in October.
The money will got to the NHL
Foundation.
CAPS BRACE FOR CHANGES
Anthony Mantha has been traded before, just not like this.
Three years ago, he joined the Capitals from the Red Wings in a surprise deal completed minutes before the deadline. He was in the first season of a new contract and didn’t yet have a daughter.
No one will be stunned if Mantha is moved this time, and he’s one of several Washington players in that category ahead of the March 8 NHL trade deadline. Just close enough to the playoff race but coming off an 8-3 defeat at Detroit and with a brutal schedule ahead, the Capitals are bracing for possible changes.
“It’s tough for everyone,” Mantha said. “Nothing’s done until you get that call, right? I just try and focus on being here and try not to think too much ahead.”
Players shouldn’t and aren’t thinking ahead. That’s general manager Brian MacLellan’s job as he contemplates how much, if at all, to sell.
Mantha and fellow pending free agents Joel Edmundson and Max Pacioretty are the most likely candidates to go. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren and center Nic Dowd, signed through next season at just over $1 million each, could also fetch significant returns if MacLellan chooses to trade either or both of them.
Lindgren and Dowd seem to be perfect additions for a Stanley Cup contender: a 30-year-old having a career year in net and a do-it-all depth forward who kills penalties, wins faceoffs and plays tough minutes.