Caitlin Clark opens up on GOAT debate as Dawn Staley claims she must win a title to be the best ever

Caitlin Clark has opened up on whether she considers herself the GOAT in women's college basketball as she aims to make history in her final college game, but Dawn Staley claims the Iowa star must win a championship to be considered the best ever.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's Championship game in Cleveland, Ohio, Clark didn't necessarily agree with her opponents' head coach, as she considers her influence on the women's collegiate game to be a far better indicator of her impact, than championships and records. 

Clark said during a press conference over the weekend: 'I've played basketball at this university for four years, and for it to come down to two games and that be whether or not I'm proud of myself and proud of the way I've carried myself and proud of the way I've impact people in their lives, I don't think that's a fair assessment.

'I don't want my legacy to be ''Oh Caitlin won X amount of games,'' or ''Caitlin scored X amounts of points.'',' she further pointed out. 'I hope it's what I was able to do for the game of women's basketball. I hope it is the young boys and young girls that are inspired to play this sport or dream to do whatever they want to do in their lives. 

'For it to come down to 40 minutes and for me to validate myself within 40 minutes, I don't think that's a fair assessment.'

Staley, who made three Final Four appearances with Virginia between 1989 and 1992, knows the pressure that comes with needing to win a championship. She had a remarkable collegiate career, going to three Final Fours, winning two players of the Year Awards and setting the NCAA record for steals at the time. 

'I was a really good in college, never won a championship,' Staley recalled, adding: 'You've got to win a championship. That's me personally. I had a great career. But it's always, did you win a championship?' 

The Gamecocks head coach, who is eyeing her third national title, referred to recent comments made by UConn forward Breanna Stewart with SiriusXM Radio, in which she said Clark needed to win a championship to go down among the college greats. 

Stewart is a four-time NCAA champion with the UConn Huskies (2013-2016) and is widely considered as one of the greatest - if not the best - women's basketball player of all time. 

'I agree with Stewie when it comes to winning the championship,' Staley said. ' We're going to talk about GOATs. I think she's the GOAT, to be able to win four national championships and to be MVP. I think she was MVP all four times.' 

Steering the conversation back to Clark, who became the all-time NCAA Division I men's and women's scoring leader this season and won several personal awards in the past two years, Staley admitted to changing her views on the 22-year-old point guard if she defeats her team, like she did last year in the national semifinals.

Last season, Clark scored 41 points against South Carolina to advance to the national championship game, only to lose to Angel Reese's LSU. The matchup led to a record number of viewers in the history of NCAA women's basketball. Clark's Iowa games in earlier rounds of this year's March Madness tournament have brought in an increase in ratings and viewership from last season, too.  

'If Caitlin wins the championship, she's pretty damn good, yeah, like she's a GOAT. I mean she's really damn good regardless. But winning the championship would seal the deal. I hope to the dear Lord she doesn't,' Staley said. 

As for what it means for women's basketball to have South Carolina rematch against Iowa in this year's title game, Staley said: 'It's a monumental game for our game. 

'We're very fortunate to be part of it. We get to witness firsthand the legacy of Catilin Clark. You watch her. You prep for her. You can't help but to really love how she dissects the game. You love how she executes. Her game is simple and yet powerful. How do you defend fundamental basketball with offense with fundamental defense? You can't. She's going to win every time. 

'So you've got to show her different looks in order for her to not settle in and picking you apart,' Staley continued. 'But we also have to play our side of the ball. We got to defend. We got to put some points on the scoreboard. I hope it's the most watched game. I've been a part of witnessing from the outside looking into the most watched game. IT's going to be fun to hopefully be a part of it.'

Clark said she understands that being in the spotlight means there is more debate about her legacy. But she prefers to stay out of it, as she braces herself for her last game as Iowa Hawkeye before moving onto the WNBA. 

'When you're in the spotlight like this, there's going to be a million different opinions on you,' she said. ' For as many people that are going to love you, there are going to be people that don't like you. That's the case with every professional athlete, men or women, playing at the highest stage. 

'I think what I've been able to do over the course of my career is just focus on the opinions of the people inside our locker room. That's what I really care about, the people that I love to death, the people that have had my back every single second of my career, have been the one that have believed in more than anybody.'