Even if you don’t follow women’s basketball all that closely, you probably (definitely?) know the name Caitlin Clark. The 23-year-old Indiana Fever guard first rose to national prominence during her college career at the University of Iowa and went pro in 2024 as the No. 1 pick in that year’s WNBA draft. Since then, her star has only risen higher.
Not only has Clark become a household name, she’s also helped inspire a massive surge in interest in the WNBA (and women’s sports in general), along with other talented newcomers like the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese, the Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers, and the Los Angeles Sparks’ Cameron Brink. That phenomenon is so well-documented that it even has its own name: the “Caitlin Clark effect.” Per valuation expert Ryan Brewer, PhD, associate professor of finance at Indiana University Columbus, Clark was single-handedly responsible for a staggering 26.5% of WNBA economic activity for the 2024 season, as first reported by The Indianapolis Star.
So it’s perhaps not a huge surprise that Clark became the first WNBA player to win TIME Magazine’s “Athlete of the Year” title in December 2024, according to CBS Sports. But despite her popularity, chances are there’s probably still a lot you don’t know about her. Before the Indiana Fever tips off next, check out these fun facts about their star player for a better sense of who she is and where she’s coming from, from her childhood aspirations to her current superstar status.
1. She’s been manifesting a basketball career since third grade.
Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Clark grew up playing multiple competitive sports, including soccer and softball, but she’s had her sights set on basketball specifically since at least the age of nine. In a March 2024 ESPN Inside Look interview, Clark shared a vision board she made in elementary school outlining her life goals, which included earning a basketball scholarship and playing in the WNBA. Check, check. (We’ll have to stay tuned on the “huge mansion” and “three or four kids.”)
2. She played in boys’ sports leagues as a kid.
Clark comes from a self-described “sports family,” and her dad was her first basketball coach. He recognized her advanced skills early on and signed her up for boys’ teams so she could continue to be challenged due to a lack of girls’ teams in the area, according to the Amateur Athletic Union. She stayed on longer than most teams remain co-ed—up until about sixth grade—and even won MVP one year. “I think it was super special in my development, and also, it was something that never fazed me,” she told ESPN. “It was just like, I’m a girl, I can hold my own, this is not anything I’ve been afraid of.”
3. Her brothers helped her reach her athletic potential.
Clark, a middle child, calls her brothers both her “biggest supporters” and “biggest haters,” telling ESPN with a laugh that they continue to humble her. In particular, she credits her older brother Blake, whom she describes as always being “bigger, stronger, faster,” for pushing her athletically. “Whenever I wanted to play with him and his friends…I never won, really, anything, and my mom always said if you want to play with them, you’ve got to find a way to hold your own,” she told ESPN. (Fun fact: Blake went on to play football at Iowa State and even befriended future San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy during his time there, according to Fox Sports).
4. Clark broke records right and left as a Hawkeye—and is continuing to do so in the pros, too.
Colleges recognized Clark’s natural talent early on. By the time Clark was in seventh grade, she was already receiving recruitment letters, as she confirmed to Jason and Travis Kelce in the January 2 episode of their “New Heights” podcast. During the same episode, she also discussed how she was initially considering Notre Dame, but ultimately changed her mind in favor of Iowa.
After that decision came many, many, many broken records. While the full list is too long to provide here in full, we’ve pulled a few highlights.
- Clark holds 17 triple doubles (meaning at least 10 assists, 10 rebounds, and 10 points in a single game). That’s the second-most triple-doubles in NCAA history for both men and women, behind only fellow pro Sabrina Ionescu (who holds the overall record with 26 triple-doubles).
- During her final regular-season college home game on March 3, 2024, Clark became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer for both men and women. Tickets to the sold-out game were the most expensive in the history of women’s basketball (both NCAA and WNBA)—not terribly surprising, considering other ones she’s played in have drawn record-breaking TV views, too.
- Thanks to lucrative partnerships with major brands like State Farm, Gatorade, and Nike, Clark is the highest-earning NCAA women’s basketball player ever and the fourth highest-earning college athlete (behind men’s basketball players Bronny James and Shedeur Sanders and women’s gymnastics star Livvy Dunne). Her college deals totaled $3.4 million, according to the verified NIL deal tracker run by On3.
Ultimately, Clark’s impact was so far-reaching that the University of Iowa actually retired her #22 jersey on February 2, less than a year after she graduated, and the state of Iowa declared February 22, 2024 “Caitlin Clark Day.”
And Clark’s record-breaking run isn’t confined to her college years, either. In 2024, she became the first WNBA rookie to score two triple-doubles; the first player in WNBA history to be named Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month in the same month; and the fastest player to reach 100 three-pointers (in 34 games), according to ESPN. She also holds WNBA records for single-season assists (321) and single-game assists (19), among others.
5. Her degree in marketing helps her make the most of her fame and success.
When she wasn’t breaking records at the University of Iowa, Clark was busy drafting a killer retail strategy: She majored in marketing with a minor in communications studies at Iowa’s Tippie College of Business—a choice that allowed her to better manage her burgeoning career. During her senior year in fall 2023, the honors student summed it up in an interview with the college: “I should get internship hours for living my daily life running my business and brand.”
6. Her list of product collabs is extensive—and still growing.
Want a Caitlin Clark-branded basketball? What about a pair of shoes? Thanks to deals with major brands like Wilson and Nike, you can buy all of the above online and more. In fact, Clark is only the second player in the history of the sport to have her own line of Wilson balls, according to Rolling Stone. (The first? Michael-freakin’-Jordan.)
In September, Wilson’s first drop in the Caitlin Clark basketball line sold out in less than an hour, according to Sports Business Journal. Then in June, the manufacturer released four new designs: Embrace, Aspire, Oasis, and Envision. The new designs all feature sneaky references to Clark herself: For example, the Oasis is partially blue and features an abstract drawing of a golf course, alluding to Clark’s favorite color and hobby. “Whenever I do something, I want to make it the best product possible for people, but also, I feel like this is an easy way for me to connect with my fans,” Clark told USA Today Sports of her involvement in the design process.
While the balls are still available for purchase online, the same can’t be said of the Caitlin Clark player edition of Nike’s signature Kobe 5 Protro sneakers. Sporting an Indiana Fever-themed colorway— midnight navy, bright crimson, and university gold— the $190 shoes sold out within minutes of dropping on June 30, according to NBC Los Angeles. If you absolutely need to have them, you still can, but most likely at a significant markup: Pairs have started appearing on resale sites priced at more than $300.
7. She has a signature move.
Since college, Clark’s been known for sinking “logo threes”—a three-point shot made from the Hawkeye logo painted on her Iowa home court, a spot several feet from the midcourt line. And it’s continuing in the pros: Just check out this wild clip showing Clark hitting three straight logo threes in 38 seconds during the Fever’s June 14 face-off against the New York Liberty (or this State Farm commercial nodding to her prowess at the shot).
Clark credits her long shooting range to physical power and her teammates’ support: “It’s come with developing strength more than anything, and the right people to guard me.” In a September 2024 60 Minutes interview, she elaborated on that, saying balance and leg strength are key. “It can’t be all upper-body. It’s got to be your legs, and I have pretty strong legs. I was a soccer player growing up…And I think that’s where I kind of got my leg strength from.”
8. Clark is always eager to prop up her teammates.
Despite the mountains of media attention and long list of records and accolades, Clark remains a humble team leader who always recognizes her teammates’ accomplishments.
In an interview with Fox after breaking the NCAA scoring record, Clark was all about the squad. “I’m just proud of our girls…I thought we played really well,” she said. Later, she specifically applauded Iowa’s then-sophomore Hawkeye Hannah Stuelke. “This is what Hannah is capable of every night. I think it’s just her confidence, believing in herself,” she said, according to Yahoo Sports.
More recently, Clark also praised her new Fever teammate DeWanna Bonner, a Connecticut Sun alum who was signed by the Fever as a free agent in the offseason (and who’s since moved on to the Phoenix Mercury). In an ESPN interview after the Fever defeated the Sky 93-58 on May 17, Clark described Bonner as “one of the best players that’s ever played the game.” “Not only a great person, a great basketball player, a really great leader for our team. I feel lucky enough to learn from her every single day,” she said.
9. But it’s not all about basketball.
Despite her laser focus on hoops, Clark likes to unwind in the off-season and between games with activities outside of basketball. Given the high-pressure nature of her sport, it’s no surprise that she turns to hobbies that are more meditative—say, baking (she’s especially fond of brownies).
Clark is also working on her golf swing. She’s been hitting the links since she was six years old, but it serves another purpose now: offering an opportunity to “do something that’s active and outside, but also with the people that I love,” as she told Golf Digest in 2023. In fact, she’s even played in at least three pro-am tournaments, the John Deere Classic in July 2023, the Annika in November 2024, and the RSM Classic, also in November 2024. The course is also a great place to strengthen her mental toughness, an essential muscle for any athlete.
10. She has her own foundation.
Not too many 20-somethings can say there’s a literal charity named for them, but Clark is one. Founded in 2023, per the Amateur Athletic Union, the nonprofit Caitlin Clark Foundation aims to “uplift and improve the lives of youth and their communities through education, nutrition, and sports—three pillars Caitlin believes were foundational in her success,” according to the mission statement on the foundation’s website. In keeping with that goal, the foundation has partnered with organizations like Nike, Scholastic, and Gatorade to bring winter clothes, school supplies, sports equipment, and other necessary items to Iowa children in need.
11. She’s been struggling with injuries recently—but remains resilient.
Unfortunately for the Fever (and their fans), Clark has had to sit out a decent chunk of this season so far due to injuries—a first in either her college career or pro run. In total, she had missed 10 of 18 games as of July 8, according to ESPN.
In May, Clark strained her left quad, sidelining her for five games in a row. While she was able to resume play on June 14, she suffered a second injury on June 24—this time to her left groin—forcing another five-game absence. “It’s obviously hard sitting out and watching for a few weeks, so I’m definitely excited to get back out there” again, she told reporters after a Fever practice on July 8.
The next day, Clark finally made her return to the court when the Fever went up against the Golden State Valkyries in Indianapolis. While the matchup ended in a Fever loss, Clark told reporters that the defeat is motivation to improve for the next time: “You should look at yourself in the mirror and find ways where you can get better, and come back to practice tomorrow, and play again on Friday.” One thing’s for sure: We’ll be waiting for her next appearance, especially with the All-Star Game on the horizon.
Related:
- UConn Basketball Star Paige Bueckers Does This One Stretch Before She Goes to Bed
- Everything to Know About Unrivaled, the New Women’s Basketball League
- Why the NY Liberty’s Historic WNBA Title Means So Much to These Fans
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