Current:Home > ContactCaitlin Clark is astonishing. But no one is better than USC's Cheryl Miller. -Capitatum
Caitlin Clark is astonishing. But no one is better than USC's Cheryl Miller.
Charles H. Sloan View
Date:2025-04-06 13:37:08
In February for Black History Month, USA TODAY Sports is publishing the series "29 Black Stories in 29 Days." We examine the issues, challenges and opportunities Black athletes and sports officials continue to face after the nation’s reckoning on race following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. This is the fourth installment of the series.
Let's be clear from the jump: Caitlin Clark is an all-time great player. Some people have tried to say she's not. Oh yeah. She is. A legendary, devastating player. Anyone who says otherwise is a goofball hater.
Yet something has happened when it comes to Clark that's been interesting to watch. There's been a classic case of recency bias. It's been all over the place in the Clark coverage and analysis. She's been anointed as the greatest player ever by some and there's an argument for that but it ignores what is a plethora of greats ... and I mean a staggering number of stunning players who are at least as good as Clark.
We saw this recency bias when Shaquille O'Neal declared Clark as "the best female collegiate player ever."
Again, it's okay, and also fun, to have this debate, as long as there's some historical perspective, which doesn't seem present. That's because you cannot have the discussion about greatest women's college player ever without mentioning one name: Cheryl Miller.
Some of you may know about Miller, some of you might not. For historical, basketball old heads, no woman player is better than Miller, and I mean no one.
There are a number of greats like Candace Parker, Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi, among others. But to me Miller tops them all.
I believe Miller, at her height, would have destroyed almost any other woman college player at theirs. And some men, too. She was generally viewed as better than her brother, Reggie Miller. That's not an exaggeration. That's how good she was.
Cheryl played at 6 foot 2 and was fast, physical and could shoot. She handled the ball like a point guard but also physically dominated the interior. Almost no one could stop her.
It's true that the women's game is far deeper and more athletic than when Miller played at USC from 1982-1986 but it doesn't matter. If you took Miller from the 1980s, placed her in a time machine, and put her in today's game, she would obliterate everyone.
Miller averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists a game. She was a two-time NCAA champion, a two-time tournament Most Outstanding Player, three-time player of the year, and four-time All-American.
Again, Clark is terrific, and none of this is about diminishing what she's accomplished. It's also true we're allowed to just let Clark enjoy her moment. But what's been lacking since Clark broke the scoring record is historical context. This is where people are failing.
Because they're forgetting all about Miller.
veryGood! (3539)
Related
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Shop Old Navy’s Red, White and Whoa! 4th of July Sale With Deals Starting at $2 & More Great Finds
- This couple has been together for 34 years. They're caring for the parents they worried about coming out to.
- Why Kendall Jenner's Visit to Paris’ Louvre Museum Is Sparking a Debate
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Train derails at Illinois village; resident evacuation lifted
- Boeing sanctioned by NTSB for releasing details of Alaska Airlines door blowout investigation
- Biden campaign, DNC highlight democracy, Jan. 6 in lead-up to debate
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Michigan deputy is fatally shot during a traffic stop in the state’s second such loss in a week
Ranking
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Dr. Jennifer 'Jen' Ashton says farewell to 'Good Morning America,' ABC News after 13 years
- In North Carolina, a Legal Fight Over Wetlands Protections
- Finally, MSNBC and Fox News agree: The CNN Presidential Debate was a grisly mess
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Wisconsin Elections Commission rejects recall attempt against state’s top Republican
- Video shows giant sinkhole at Illinois soccer field following mine collapse: Watch
- After split with NYC July 4 hot dog competition, Joey Chestnut heads to army base event in Texas
Recommendation
Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
California voters to weigh proposal to ban forced prison labor in state constitution
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Back End
Law limiting new oil wells in California set to take effect after industry withdraws referendum
Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
Volkswagen recalls more than 270k SUVs over airbag that may not deploy during a crash
Brittany Mahomes Shares Glimpse Into Family Vacation With Patrick Mahomes and Their 2 Kids
Princess Anne returns home after hospitalization for concussion