Back in 2016, Scott Babinat, an assistant coach at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, said something that probably made people roll their eyes at the time: “We’re coaching the female version of Steph Curry.” Imagine hearing that about a 14-year-old who hadn’t even played a single college game yet. Fast forward to 2024, and it’s safe to say Babinat deserves his own trophy for one of the boldest—and most accurate—predictions in sports history.
Caitlin Clark, now a 22-year-old basketball sensation, has stormed the WNBA like a whirlwind, earning herself Rookie of the Year honors and breaking records like it’s just another day at the office. And let’s not even talk about the three-pointers—seriously, can this girl even see the three-point line? It’s almost like she shoots from another dimension, channeling Golden State Warriors legend Steph Curry with every jaw-dropping shot from beyond the arc.
But let’s rewind to the moment when Clark’s future was written in the stars. Babinat’s jaw-dropping declaration wasn’t just the blind optimism of a high school coach—it was based on some serious basketball wizardry. “You’re not going to believe this,” he said, “but we are coaching a player that will become the female version of Steph Curry in many people’s minds.”
Did anyone believe him? Probably not. It sounded like one of those grandiose statements coaches make to keep their players motivated, right? Wrong.
In her first high school training camp, Clark was already turning heads—not with a basic layup, oh no. She showed off with a three-quarter-court bounce pass and a casual behind-the-back dish that would make even seasoned pros stop and do a double-take. Her head coach, Kristin Meyer, recalls being completely floored by Clark’s audacity. “It kind of shocked everyone in the gym just that she had the guts to do it,” Meyer shared. Oh, and she nailed it, too. Execution? Perfect. Confidence? Sky-high.
Clark wasn’t just your run-of-the-mill basketball prodigy. Meyer swears that Clark, even as a freshman, was playing the game on a different level, with court vision that would make you think she had eyes on the back of her head. You know that teammate who seems to know exactly where to be, like they’ve got a cheat code? Yeah, that was Clark.
Fast forward to her rookie season in the WNBA, and Clark’s stats speak for themselves. Averaging 19.2 points per game, she’s breaking NCAA records like they’re going out of style and has solidified her position as the most popular player in the WNBA. As if that weren’t enough, she’s out there effortlessly pulling up from downtown like Steph Curry’s long-lost twin sister.
What’s next for Clark? Well, if she keeps playing like this, she’ll need her own statue outside the basketball arena. One thing’s for sure: when Babinat said she’d be the “female version of Steph Curry,” he wasn’t kidding. He might have even undersold her a bit. Clark’s just getting started, and it looks like she’s got no intention of slowing down. Keep your eyes peeled—this is one basketball journey you don’t want to miss.