Confident Clara Strack Ready for Sophomore Season

Sometimes, a player just needs an opportunity to show what they can do. For Kentucky women’s basketball sophomore Clara Strack, that chance came at the end of last season.

Strack, a 6-5 center, spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign playing behind three-time Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year Elizabeth Kitley at Virginia Tech. However, late in the season, a knee injury ended Kitley’s career and, in turn, gave Strack the opportunity she had been waiting for all season.

To say that Strack made the most of that chance would be an understatement. In the ACC Tournament, Strack came off the bench to score 11 points and grab five rebounds in the Hokies’ win over Miami. Strack would have four points and six rebounds in Virginia Tech’s loss to Notre Dame in the ACC semifinals.

Strack’s next game was her first-even NCAA Tournament game, and she made it a memorable one. Playing against Marshall, the Buffalo native made all seven of her shots from the field on her way to 17 points. She added five rebounds and two assists.

Her postseason momentum carried over to Virginia Tech’s second-round game against Baylor. The Hokies came up just short, losing 75-72, but Strack played perhaps her best game of the season. She was six of eight from the floor on her way to 18 points, and she also had a career-high 10 rebounds in just 24 minutes of action due to foul trouble.

Strack knew that all she needed was a chance.

“I think, given the opportunity, I was able to show what I can do,” she said. “Obviously, there’s more to build on, way more to grow, but I think getting that opportunity was very awesome.”

One thing that is different for Strack is that she’s a more confident player after what happened at the end of 2024.

“Definitely a lot more than I had,” she said of her confidence. “We’re still working on having as much confidence in myself as I should but (the end of last season) definitely helped a lot. I think that is really helpful. That end of the year really built up my confidence and I think bringing that here will be really important.”

At the end of last season, when Kenny Brooks was hired as the Kentucky head coach, Strack made the decision to join him in Lexington. It has been a fairly smooth transition due to her familiarity with the coaching staff as well as former teammates Georgia Amoore and Gabby Brooks.

“You have people you’re familiar with,” Strack said. “We have a lot of the same coaching staff. I think that makes things a lot easier for everyone.”

As for her new team, Strack has been impressed with the number of tall players that Brooks has assembled on this squad.

“Having the height that we have, it can be such an advantage,” Strack said. “I think that having so much depth in that area can be really helpful. You’re not always relying on one person.”

A confident Strack figures to be a key cog in the UK attack this season. If she can continue to build on what she did at the end of last season, a super sophomore season could be upcoming.