In Iowa City, Iowa, LaBradford Smith is known for a remark he allegedly never made, becoming a peculiar footnote in sports history. Following a commendable performance against the Bulls, Michael Jordan fabricated an insult from the young guard Smith to stoke his competitive fire for their next encounter.
Unlike Smith’s mythical slight, Caitlin Clark finds no need for such imaginative provocations.
On Selection Sunday, the anticipation in the room was palpable as West Virginia’s coach, Mark Kellogg, and his entourage eyed a potential second-round face-off with top-seeded Iowa. In a moment of unbridled enthusiasm, Kellogg declared to his audience, “Let’s win one and then send Caitlin Clark packing,” a statement that quickly became a rallying cry.
This bold proclamation spread like wildfire, turning into a viral sensation ahead of their NCAA Tournament showdown. Despite the widespread attention, Clark remained unfazed, attributing Kellogg’s words to competitive spirit, “He’s probably just competitive,” she remarked, showing her focus remained on the game rather than the surrounding noise.
Kellogg, reflecting on the moment, clarified his intentions, stating, “I’m not a trash-talker… It wasn’t about me versus Caitlin Clark.” He explained that the phrase ‘sending Clark packing’ was suggested by someone else, emphasizing that his team’s goal was to achieve something special, which inadvertently involved overcoming Clark’s team.
The narrative, however, took on a life of its own on social media, distorting Kellogg’s message and pitting him directly against Clark in public perception.
Clark, for her part, is no stranger to being under the spotlight and facing undue criticism. When faced with chants of being “overrated” by a rival high school’s fans, she responded emphatically on the court with a 42-point game. Similarly, when Iowa State’s crowd echoed such sentiments, Clark dominated the rivalry road game, securing a win with a 35-point performance, proving her mettle time and again.
Kellogg’s players rallied behind their coach’s words, seeing them not as a burden but as a source of motivation. West Virginia guard Jordan Harrison expressed his support, “It definitely fired me up. I want a coach like that, who doesn’t back down from anybody. I’m just here to back him up.”
The team harbors ambitions of making history and believes that the pressure is squarely on their opponents’ shoulders. “I don’t think anybody in the NCAA wants to play us… We want to make a statement,” Harrison added, underscoring the team’s resolve to defy expectations and leave a mark on the tournament.