Could Caitlyn Clark compete with D1 men?

[bk400]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

The US women’s national soccer team lost an exhibition game to an Under 15 year old boys team representing just the Dallas area 5-2. Quote was they were “ bigger, stronger, faster” .

This is an apt comparison. Soccer is a contact sport in a way that is analogous, if not similar to basketball, and the USWNT were arguably the best women's soccer team in the world. That they lost badly to a city-wide team of 15 year olds highlights the strength and speed differences between the sexes.

There is less space on a basketball court relative to a soccer pitch, so quickness and leaping ability in basketball is more important than pure straight line speed, and contact takes place more frequently and is harder to shake. These factors probably accentuate the female disadvantage even more in basketball.

I would take the argument further and say that Caitlyn Clark would struggle 1v1 against the starting, varsity boys shooting guard at any American public high school with an enrollment of more than 1500.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bk400

This is an apt comparison. Soccer is a contact sport in a way that is analogous, if not similar to basketball, and the USWNT were arguably the best women's soccer team in the world. That they lost badly to a city-wide team of 15 year olds highlights the strength and speed differences between the sexes.

There is less space on a basketball court relative to a soccer pitch, so quickness and leaping ability in basketball is more important than pure straight line speed, and contact takes place more frequently and is harder to shake. These factors probably accentuate the female disadvantage even more in basketball.

I would take the argument further and say that Caitlyn Clark would struggle 1v1 against the starting, varsity boys shooting guard at any American public high school with an enrollment of more than 1500.

And even then I am guessing those 15 year olds instinctively were less physical in that game than they would have been with their male contemporaries. I played a lot of basketball in the day in countless venues and configurations, and on occasion women would find their way into a game (some were even accomplished players) and no self-respecting guy is going to be rough on a woman in that setting.

[Casey2296]

I'll never understand this obsession with women being a part of men's sports, we fought for 50 years so women could have their own space, title 9 anyone? Women aren't men and men aren't women.
The bigger concern is biological men invading women's spaces now, imho.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I'll never understand this obsession with women being a part of men's sports, we fought for 50 years so women could have their own space, title 9 anyone? Women aren't men and men aren't women.
The bigger concern is biological men invading women's spaces now, imho.

Ironic, indeed. Back in the day, no self respecting man would masquerade as a woman to play women's sports. But, alas, these are different times.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I'll never understand this obsession with women being a part of men's sports, we fought for 50 years so women could have their own space, title 9 anyone? Women aren't men and men aren't women.
The bigger concern is biological men invading women's spaces now, imho.

"Girls will be boys and boys will be girls, it's a mixed up mumbled up shook up world."

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

"Girls will be boys and boys will be girls, it's a mixed up mumbled up shook up world."

Excellent Kinks knowledge Mr Spaeth.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Excellent Kinks knowledge Mr Spaeth.

1972 maybe? It was so outrageous for its time. "Well I'm not dumb but I can't understand why she walked like a woman but talked like a man." LOL and they played it too.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I'll never understand this obsession with women being a part of men's sports, we fought for 50 years so women could have their own space, title 9 anyone? Women aren't men and men aren't women.

The bigger concern is biological men invading women's spaces now, imho.

I didn't realize there is an obsession with that. I think here we are just having a goofy conversation about how good Clark is, similar to how people liked to wonder whether the Kentucky basketball teams could have beaten the Sixers.

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[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

And even then I am guessing those 15 year olds instinctively were less physical in that game than they would have been with their male contemporaries. I played a lot of basketball in the day in countless venues and configurations, and on occasion women would find their way into a game (some were even accomplished players) and no self-respecting guy is going to be rough on a woman in that setting.

And vice versa I would think. I don't think you get accolades for putting a hip into a 14 year old boy.

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[packs]

I don't know why so much is made of that scrimmage. It wasn't played under any real game condition at all and it was merely a practice for the women's team in anticipation of playing an international friendly, which I'm sure is where the effort went.

This is like suggesting the Yankees loss to the Diablos Rojos on Sunday meant anything.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

And vice versa I would think. I don't think you get accolades for putting a hip into a 14 year old boy.

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Yeah I am sure the women lost because they toned down their game.

[steve B]

There's no way to know for sure. So much of a team sport depends on the team. I do think it would be very challenging.

But, while figuring out a reply, I looked up something.

My college was... Small. I wouldn't think we were D anything.
Our basketball team played Bridgeport while Manute Bol was there. And lost but didn't get blown out.
I was very surprised to learn Bridgeport is D2.

The reason I looked?
I would play occasionally when some guys that played in the parking lot around lunchtime would ask.
My basketball skills can be described as somewhere between "Awful" and "F_ atrocious"
I did not make my HS team when I tried out.
I played one season of rec league, and my stat "line" for 0for I think 2, two fouls committed (One I still disagree with ) and led the league in shots hitting the beams in the low ceiling 2! Why they put the little kids up in the real gym and the high school age kids in the little kid gym downstairs.... anyway, those two shots might have missed anyway, although I was ok from what would now be 3 pt distance.

I was obviously only filling a space until someone got back from class, but oddly, I never felt seriously outclassed.
I found out that bunch of guys was our basketball team - and that we even had a team- when they were talking in the lunch line about playing against Bol.

The game had changed a lot, and my school got absorbed into the CT community college system,

Do I think an excellent female Player might make the roster on a D1 team.
I'm not sure. The right player on the right team with the right coach.... maybe. Theres certainly stuff that they would have to game plan around. And it might not work out. But I don't think I could rule it out completely.

[maniac_73]

If she can make a D1 team she should try and make a D1 team. There are no rules against women trying out for a Men's team and if they think they can hang they should try. The fact that we don't have women on these men's teams outside a few marketing examples tells you what you need to know.

[packs]

Originally Posted by maniac_73

If she can make a D1 team she should try and make a D1 team. There are no rules against women trying out for a Men's team and if they think they can hang they should try. The fact that we don't have women on these men's teams outside a few marketing examples tells you what you need to know.

She has a free ride at Iowa playing women's basketball and really has nothing to prove to anyone. This is a theoretical discussion only.

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by maniac_73

If she can make a D1 team she should try and make a D1 team. There are no rules against women trying out for a Men's team and if they think they can hang they should try. The fact that we don't have women on these men's teams outside a few marketing examples tells you what you need to know.

I think Clark's career is in a much better place right now than if she was sitting on the bench for Northern Iowa's men's team, don't you? Just because a top woman player could try out for a men's team, it would probably not make sense for them to do it.

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[Jewish-collector]

She wouldn't even be able to make a high school boys basketball team for tryout if the coaches were serious. She MIGHT be a able to make a Jr. High/Middle school boys team, nothing higher.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

She wouldn't even be able to make a high school boys basketball team for tryout if the coaches were serious. She MIGHT be a able to make a Jr. High/Middle school boys team, nothing higher.

I'm pretty sure she could easily make the boys basketball team at my kids' high school.