The anticipation surrounding Iowa's All-American point guard, Caitlin Clark, continues to reach new heights as she is widely predicted to be the top pick in the upcoming WNBA draft. Clark, who has become one of the faces of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) movement, recently shared how her life has been transformed since becoming a college basketball icon.

In an interview with "Today," the 22-year-old Clark revealed how much her life has changed since receiving mass attention. She admitted to feeling more nervous about her surprise appearance on "Saturday Night Live" than playing in the national championship game against South Carolina on April 7, which ended in an 87-75 loss. The experience of performing in front of a live audience on national television outside of her comfort zone made her heart pound.

As a native of Iowa, Clark's celebrity status has skyrocketed leading up to the draft. Her recent hilarious cameo on SNL, where she roasted Michael Che during the "Weekend Update" segment alongside Colin Jost, only added to her growing popularity. Clark, who made history by becoming the leading all-time NCAA Division I basketball scorer, played a pivotal role in the success of this year's women's tournament. Her impact extended beyond the court, as the Common Sense Institute reported that Iowa's season generated approximately $82.5 million for the state's economy.

The Caitlin Clark effect was not limited to Iowa alone. NCAA schools that hosted Clark and the Hawkeyes experienced an average surge in attendance of more than 150%, according to The Associated Press. The women's championship game, broadcasted on ABC and ESPN, attracted a staggering 18.7 million viewers - the highest viewership for any basketball game (men's or women's, college or professional) since 2019. The broadcast peaked at an impressive 24 million viewers.

With the WNBA draft drawing near, Clark's projected selection as the first overall pick by the Indiana Fever has created a spike in ticket interest. In response to the demand, the Fever made the unprecedented move of pre-selling single-game tickets instead of the usual two-game packages for a 15-day stretch, as reported by ESPN. While the exact numbers are unknown, Clark happily mentioned that season tickets are already selling well in Indianapolis.

During her final season at Iowa, Clark attracted fans from all over who wanted to witness her exceptional shooting skills firsthand. Now, she feels confident in taking her talents to the WNBA, acknowledging that there may be a learning curve but viewing it as a good challenge. She reminds herself that she has earned this opportunity through her hard work.

Apart from her WNBA prospects, Clark's accomplishments have already garnered recognition on an international level. Despite missing the Team USA 14-player training camp roster in Cleveland due to her commitment to playing in the Final Four, Clark expressed her dream to represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics. As a child, she always aspired to become an Olympic gold medalist and cherishes the opportunity to wear the USA jersey.

As the draft nears, the excitement surrounding Caitlin Clark continues to grow. Her meteoric rise to fame has not only energized ticket sales for WNBA teams but also reignited hope and enthusiasm for women's basketball on a larger scale. With her talent, determination, and incredible achievements, Clark is poised to make a significant impact in both the professional league and the international stage, fulfilling dreams and inspiring future generations of athletes.