Lisa Bluder, the women’s basketball coach at Iowa, had developed a concrete definition of a good shot attempt during her four decades of coaching experience. A player needs to be in range, in rhythm and uncontested.
And then, in 2020, a 6-foot point guard named Caitlin Clark arrived on campus — and that definition fell apart.
Clark, who has led Division I in made 3-pointers in two of her three seasons at Iowa, regularly shoots from mere steps inside the midcourt line, sometimes off-balance, and often over the outstretched arms of defenders, defying Bluder’s three pillars.
“I have definitely had to change that,” Bluder said. “But she’s a special player, so she gets special opportunities.”
Clark has become one of college basketball’s biggest stars, captivating audiences and frustrating coaches (sometimes even her own) with her long-range shooting accuracy. Clark is a finalist for the 2023 Naismith national player of the year award, and her dynamic offensive play has Iowa (30-6) in the round of 16 for the third time in the past four N.C.A.A. tournaments. The Hawkeyes will play sixth-seeded Colorado (27-8) on Friday in Seattle.
“She can score from anywhere, and I mean anywhere,” North Carolina State Coach Wes Moore said after Clark scored 45 points, with seven…
