Fans could not believe the audacity.

As Caitlin Clark’s stardom grows, so does the target drawn on her number 22 Iowa Hawkeyes jersey. As her final NCAA Tournament approaches, that target is bigger than ever.

Just moments after the official March Madness brackets were revealed, Mark Kellogg, coach of Iowa’s potential second-round opponent West Virginia, wasted no time before taking aim at the NCAA all-time leading scorer. He was asking for trouble when he called Clark out by name in this bold speech.

Caitlin Clark got singled out by a potential second-round opponent

“I already told them,” he said to the crowd gathered at West Virginia to watch the bracket reveal, “let’s win one and then let’s send Caitlin Clark packing.”

Iowa has a difficult road to the Final Four

The Albany region of the women’s NCAA Tournament bracket is absolutely loaded, but West Virginia probably was not the first team Clark noticed in their quadrant until Kellogg’s fighting words hit social media.

The Hawkeyes (No. 1 seed) are joined by No. 2 seed UCLA, and got arguably the best No. 3 seed, LSU in their region. Ever since last year’s NCAA Championship game ended in drama between Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese, college basketball fans have eagerly awaited a rematch. If they meet this year, it will be in the Elite 8, with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

Lisa Bluder’s team also can’t overlook No. 4 seed Kansas State, a team that has beat them in November. They would face off in the Sweet 16 if both teams advance.

Social media thinks Clark will make WVU coach eat his words

Clark’s last dance begins by hosting the first two games in Iowa City. The bulletin board material provided by West Virginia’s coach adds to the intrigue of what would be Clark’s final game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Only one problem: the No. 8 seed Mountaineers need to win a tough first-round game against No. 9 Princeton first.

“He’s a genius, providing motivation for Princeton AND Iowa at the same time,” joked one reply to the video on Twitter/X.

“Woof. You asked for it,” one fan said in disbelief.

“This was a bad idea. Clark might go for 50 against these guys,” said another.