- Caitlin Clark shocked audiences by appearing on Saturday Night Live this week
- She joined Michael Che and responded to his usual jokes about women’s sports.
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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 ahead of Monday’s WNBA draft.
The 22-year-old superstar appeared on the iconic show, hosted by Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Gosling, in the “Weekend Update” segment alongside actor Michael Che.
Che, known for ridiculing women’s sports in his monologues, made a sexist joke about replacing Clark’s Iowa jersey — which will be retired by the school — with an apron.
That’s when Clark appeared on stage next to him, to a thunderous welcome from the audience, before questioning why Che so often makes fun of women’s sports, a claim he initially denied .
But Colin Jost, co-host of the segment and husband of Scarlett Johansson, then played a montage of some of Che’s brutal jokes about women’s basketball, to which he added: “Unlike Che, I support women.”
In a hilarious response, Clark then had Che read a number of hilarious jokes she supposedly wrote. They included the fact that she had a “three points” for him: “Be.” More fun. Imbecile**.’
The audience enjoyed Clark’s appearance before she delivered a touching tribute to the WNBA legends.
After Che wished her luck in Monday’s draft, Clark said, “I’m sure it’ll be a big step for me, but it’s just one step for the WNBA.”
“Thank you to all the great players like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, the great Dawn Staley and my basketball hero Maya Moore.
“It was these women who broke down the door so I could enter. So I want to thank them tonight for laying the groundwork.
Clark then ended the segment by abruptly handing Che an apron she had signed earlier.
This comes just a week after Clark, who was projected to go No. 1 overall in Monday’s draft, and the Iowa Hawkeyes were defeated in the final of the women’s NCAA tournament.
Clark has helped attract millions of new fans to the game over the past few seasons with his ruthless shooting and dazzling passing ability.
The Iowa star was a big reason why a record 18.9 million viewers watched the NCAA championship game where South Carolina beat the Hawkeyes.
The NCAA Division I all-time leader will go first against 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 this season became major college basketball’s all-time leading scorer on her way to becoming the consensus national player of the year, was honored along with her teammates during a celebration in the Iowa Arena.
“I would say you all inspired me as much as I inspired you,” Clark told the nearly 8,000 fans in attendance.
“And you allowed me to live my dream every day, and for that, I am very grateful. It was very special and this place will always be for me.
Clark finished her career with 3,951 points and 1,144 assists, an All-American in every season in a career that began playing in front of sparse crowds during her freshman year when attendance was limited due to the pandemic of COVID-19.
She received a standing ovation when Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz announced that Clark’s No. 22 jersey would be retired, the third number to be retired in program history.
