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Caitlin Clark made a shock appearance on Saturday Night Live this week with college basketball’s biggest star in New York City ahead of Monday’s WNBA draft.
The 22-year-old superstar popped up during the iconic show’s, which was being hosted by Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Gosling, ‘Weekend Update’ segment alongside cast member Michael Che.
Che, known to make light of women’s sports in his monologues, made a sexist joke about Clark’s Iowa jersey – which will be retired by the school – being replaced by an apron.
It was then that Clark emerged on stage beside him to a thunderous reception from the audience before questioning why Che mocks women’s sports so frequently, a claim he initially denied.
But Colin Jost, the co-host of the segment and husband of Scarlett Johansson, then played a montage of some of Che’s brutal jokes on women’s basketball, to which he added: ‘Unlike Che, I support women.’
Caitlin Clark made a shock appearance on Saturday Night Live ahead of the WNBA draft
Michael Che made a joke about Clark’s jersey, which will be retired, being replaced by an apron
After making Che read jokes about himself that she had written, Clark give him a signed apron
The 22-year-old superstar then paid tribute to WNBA legends ahead of Monday night’s draft
In a hilarious response, Clark then made Che read a number of hilarious jokes that she had supposedly written. They included how she had a ‘three pointer’ for him – ‘Be. Funnier. Dumba**.’
The audience lapped up Clark’s appearance before she paid a touching tribute to legends of the WNBA.
After Che wished her luck in Monday’s draft, Clark said: ‘I’m sure it will be a big step for me but it’s just one step for the WNBA.
‘Thanks to all the great players like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, the great Dawn Staley & my basketball hero Maya Moore.
‘These are the women that kicked down the door so I could walk inside. So I want to thank them tonight for laying the foundation.’
Clark then ended the segment by brutally handing Che an apron that she had signed earlier on.
It comes just a week after Clark, predicted to go No. 1 overall in Monday’s draft, and the Iowa Hawkeyes were beaten in the final of the women’s NCAA Tournament final.
Clark has helped bring millions of new fans to the game in recent seasons with her ruthless shooting and dazzling passing ability.
The Iowa star was a big reason why a record 18.9 million viewers tuned in to the NCAA championship game where South Carolina beat the Hawkeyes.
Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes were beaten in the final of the women’s NCAA Tournament final
Earlier this week she said an emotional goodbye to Iowa fans as she prepares for the WNBA
The NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader will go first to the Indiana Fever on Monday night when the draft takes place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in front of 1,000 fans.
Earlier this week Clark, who became major college basketball’s all-time leading scorer this season on the way to being the consensus national player of the year, was honored along with her teammates in a celebration at Iowa’s home arena.
‘I would say you’ve all inspired me as much as I inspired you,’ Clark said to the approximately 8,000 fans in attendance.
‘And you allowed me to live out my dream every single day, and for that, I’m very thankful. It’s been very special, and this place will always be home to me.’
Clark finished her career with 3,951 points and 1,144 assists, an All-American in every season in a career that started playing in front of sparse crowds during her freshman year when attendance was limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She received a standing ovation when Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz announced that Clark’s jersey number 22 will be retired, the third number to be retired in program history.
