You don’t have to be Jill Hutchison to understand what the Caitlin Clark craze has done for women’s college basketball this season. With Clark breaking records seemingly in every game, and her University of Iowa team selling out arenas at home and on the road, the impact has been undeniable.
That said, to fully appreciate where the women’s game is — with unprecedented levels of popularity, exposure and viewership – it helps to be Hutchison. The former Illinois State coach was on the ground floor of all this, helping to organize and coaching in the first women’s national tournament in 1972 at Horton Field House.
That Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Tournament was the first in which teams had to qualify through regional competition. Sixteen did, and the three-day event got the ball rolling toward the big-money, high-profile game we see today.
“I bet we didn’t have 50 people in the stands for the opening ceremonies.” said Hutchison, who was in her second year as ISU coach in 1972. “But just the fact we finally had a national championship … it brought everybody in the country together, they had to qualify. That was huge at the time.
“I think it’s grown from that. To see where the game was then and where we are now 50 years later is just thrilling to me. The quality of play is better, the coaching is better, the crowds are better, it’s entertaining. It’s just exciting to see the growth in the game.”
Clark, a captivating senior guard, has played a major role. She became the NCAA Division I career scoring leader for men and women this season. Her long-range shooting and slick passing have made her the idol of thousands of young players.
She emerged as the face of college basketball, male or female. She’s appeared nationally in State Farm Insurance commercials. Go to your local HyVee and you see a lifesize cutout of her. Clark’s name, image and likeness—– we hear a lot about NIL these days — are everywhere.
Hutchison called the Iowa star “amazing” for her all-around play, citing her passing ability and “exquisite” timing. The former ISU coach also has been impressed with how Clark, as well as her teammates and Iowa coach Lisa Bluder, have handled the intense media spotlight.
“I think Lisa has done a great job of keeping the team focused and keeping the chemistry and helping Caitlin Clark navigate all that she’s had to deal with,” Hutchison said.
“I can’t imagine what that young lady goes through on a daily basis with the media attention. Just walking across campus, I’m sure she’s getting all kinds of attention. To deal with that, play the game, go to school, live a life, I mean, she’s got a lot on her plate.”
It’s a good problem to have for Clark, who has been well compensated, and for women’s basketball. Players with such a high profile elevate the sport.
Hutchison credits Clark for bringing “a ton of attention to the game,” but points out other teams and players also are “drawing extremely well and have a good fan base.”
“I can walk in almost anyplace and somebody’s going to say something to me about Caitlin Clark or South Carolina or something in women’s basketball,” Hutchison said. “That wouldn’t have happened even five years ago.
“I’m grateful I was able to be around when we started and to have some influence on what happened. But I’m even more excited about where they are and where they’re going. The future is really bright for women’s sports, period.”
There was no way to foresee that in February 1972, when Hutchison’s Redbird team wore uniforms that also were used for volleyball and softball. That’s where women’s athletics were at the time, fighting to transition from unsanctioned “sports day” events to true intercollegiate competition.
The national title was won by Immaculata, a Pennsylvania Catholic school of 750 students. Its star player was sophomore Theresa Shank, who became a head coach as Theresa Grentz at Rutgers and Illinois. Also playing in the tournament was Tennessee-Martin’s Pat Head, who went on to build a coaching dynasty as Pat Summitt at Tennessee.
Both are in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, as is Hutchison for her pioneering efforts in the game and a 28-year ISU tenure that included 461 victories.
Hutchison served as tournament director for the 1972 event and played a role in establishing regions, setting qualifying standards and selecting officials. She and others wore many hats, but as she said, “If it was there, we had to do it. There weren’t any options.”
It was a lot of work and no guarantees of success.
Still …
“It was exciting to do it and we had to start someplace. So, you know, why not Normal, Illinois?” Hutchison said.
Look at it now. Iowa’s second-round NCAA Tournament win over West Virginia averaged 4.9 million television viewers. It was the largest pre-Final Four audience in women’s tournament history. A good bet to surpass that? An Elite Eight showdown against LSU, a rematch of last year’s national title game.
Hutchison marvels at the numbers and what they mean for the future.
“Just the fact girls can compete, they can really follow their passion, they have a chance to be as good as they can be, I think is fantastic,” Hutchison said.
“Those kids have role models finally. They know that there’s no ceiling. They have opportunities to go beyond college and play pro in this country without having to go overseas. They (current players) have been good role models. They’re taking the time with the next generation to bring that elevator up to this level.”
How high can it go?
Time will tell, but Hutchison predicts with “so many good young players, it’s going to continue to improve.”
“Even when I talk to some of our former players, they’re so excited about where the game is,” she said. “They know they were part of what’s got it here.
“It’s just been a great evolution of women’s sports. And I think it parallels what’s going on with women in our society.”
