Caitlin Clark is so competitive her own coach calls technicals on her in practice

Caitlin Clark is competitive, we all know that. Based on stories her family shared with her brothers when she was young, Clark has always wanted to compete and be the best at whatever she does.

It can be seen clearly as day on the court whenever Clark hits a logo three, feels a bad call is being made, or just in a tight game makes a point to let the other team know she is there. Apparently, though, that competitive nature is not just seen within the confines of a 40-minute game.

In an off-day press conference before the Hawkeyes were set to take on Colorado in the Sweet 16, the subject of Clark's competitive nature came up. Head coach Lisa Bluder admitted that there have been times she has called a technical foul on Clark from the bench in practice.

Bluder cited that the reason she feels the need to call technical fouls on Clark is to teach her to keep her composure at times. The Hawkeyes bring in officials to practices, although the plays said it is normally just student managers. Bluder said though that they don't call techs on Clark so she takes matters into her own hands.

When Clark, Gabbie Marshall, and Kate Martin came out to speak after Bluder's press conference, they were told what their head coach said and immediately Clark chimed in stating it hadn't happened in a while. However, her teammates chimed in on how and why Clark is so competitive, even in practice.

"She wants to win, she hates losing so that's where that comes into play," Marshall said.

Both Marshall and Martin said that the team managers typically ref their practices and even admitted that they weren't very good refs and that probably plays into why Clark gets so heated with calls in practice.

Being competitive is something Clark has been through her entire life. in an SC Featured story, Clark's family talked about how their daughter and sister wasn't just competitive on the court, but in everything she did.

"All I wanted to do was win no matter if it was a board game, a card game, really anything, I was just going to do whatever it took to win," Clark said. "I got kicked out of PE class because I was so competitive."

Clark credits her competitive nature to growing up with her brothers but also playing with boy's teams up until about sixth grade, longer than most girls do.

That competitive fire will come in handy in the Hawkeyes Elite Eight matchup against the LSU Tigers, the team that beat Iowa in last year's National Championship. Clark will go up against LSU star Angel Reese, who is also known for her competitive nature. Sparks will fly in what should be a great rematch.