MIES (Switzerland) - The buzz around the potential of Caitlin Clark was already loud when she appeared at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2021, but being crowned MVP in Debrecen helped super-charge a truly meteoric rise to stardom.
Prior to taking individual honors in Hungary, Clark had already shown her potential as part of the title winning USA team at the previous U19 Worlds in Bangkok. She lifted the trophy while balling with other high-profile rising stars such has Paige Bueckers and Hailey Van Lith.
Joining the exclusive club of players to have won back-to-back U19 crowns, Clark announced she was ready for a near vertical lift off in 2021 when she averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.
It was in the second game in Debrecen that she put on the big show. Entering near triple-double territory by torching the highly-fancied Australia with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.
If they weren't already - it put the entire tournament on notice.
She followed it up with more big shows against the competition's biggest guns, sinking 17 points in the Quarter-Final clash with Spain. Clark then netted 14 points, including four huge downtown scores in the Semi-Final test against host nation Hungary.
Even if she wasn't at her best shooting-wise in the title game itself, she turned facilitator by passing the rock 8 times against Australia and adding 8 rebounds for good measure.
What followed the tournament and a special day has been spectacular.
The highlights have included those record-breaking headlines around the globe for her historic performance two years ago when she amassed the first-ever 40-point triple-double in an NCAA tournament game - men or women. Taking the Iowa Hawkeyes from the Elite Eight to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament she amassed 41 points on 11-19 shooting, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.
It formed part of her having left an indelible mark on the College game - eventually departing last year as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history - again, men or women, with 3,951 points. Helped of course by that 49-point show against Michigan when she set a new peak.
Throw in the women's single-season scoring record (1,234 points) and it's what that even without a title, she's in the NCAA GOAT conversation.
Having started making positive waves in the pro-ranks, it surely won't be long before she's suiting up for the senior USA side at major FIBA events. That means following in the same footsteps that other megastars have taken - and not least, the likes of Breanna Stewart who was also a double U19 Worlds winner and MVP at her second edition.
Will she play for USA next year at the FIBA Women's World Cup 2026 in Germany?
FIBA