Like many sports fans this year, I have been in awe of the on-court accomplishments of Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark.

The timing for Clark topping LSU legend Pete Maravich’s NCAA scoring record of 3,667 points could not have been better as it occurred in March during Women’s History month. Clark will not only be etched in college basketball history for her incredible scoring feats but also for her overall impact on the women’s game, as current underclassmen stars like USC’s JuJu Watkins, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, LSU’s Mikaylah Williams and Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon have already boldly stepped into the spotlight. Watching the gifted athleticism of these female basketball phenoms is no doubt going to bring the highest TV ratings ever for the women’s NCAA tourney.

In thinking about just how far women’s college basketball has come since the 1980s during my middle and high school years, I reflect fondly on the dominant USC teams led by Cheryl Miller, the McGee twins, Pam and Paula, and Cynthia Cooper that won back-to-back national championships in 1983 and 1984. Although women’s sports only got small headlines in those days, these Trojan squads were able to garner enough visibility to let folks know these ladies had major game. Miller ended up scoring 3,018 points in her USC career while crashing the boards and pulling down 1,534 rebounds. My hometown of Athens, Georgia, also had a bona fide female star in Teresa Edwards, who played point guard for the UGA Lady Bulldogs from 1982 to 1986 and went on to become a four-time Olympic gold medalist.

I can only imagine the huge fandom across the country these ’80s heroines would have amassed if they played in today’s era of name, image and likeness (NIL), social media and more lucrative deals for women’s NCAA games. Clark’s NIL brand, due to her extraordinary talent, is worth a little over $3 million.

As Clark holds the NCAA scoring record with 3,771 points before she leads Iowa into the women’s tournament, many would say that there is pressure on her to win the championship this year, but I doubt she is feeling stressed due to all the obvious fun she is having in her last college season.

Just as Clark’s star is shining brightly, so are others like LSU’s Angel Reese, who has an NIL valuation of $1.8 million, according to On3. JuJu Watkins is also making mad bank, as the USC freshman has NIL deals with Nike, CELSIUS energy drink, and NerdWallet. Clark doesn’t have to pass the baton to Watkins and other freshmen stars. They are already running with it.

As March Madness begins for the women, I want to see these young ladies genuinely celebrated for their elite court skills. Three years ago, before Watkins joined the Trojans, she tweeted that she was “[h]umbled by the experiences and blessings God has [given her].” In looking at how the women’s game has progressed in this short time span, it’s a humbling experience to watch them bring so much joy and excitement to fans.