I’ve never really been a basketball fan, but I am most definitely a Caitlin Clark fan. It is FUN to watch her play. However, Caitlin Clark’s impact goes far beyond her amazing statistics. She’s elevated women’s basketball to new heights, drawing record crowds, major media attention, and a new generation of fans. And the best part? She’s just getting started.
Early years
Born in Des Moines, Iowa in 2002, Caitlin Clark grew up in a sports-loving family as the middle of three kids born to Anne Nizzi-Clark and Brent Clark. With athletics woven into her upbringing, she dabbled in several sports before zeroing in on basketball where her talent quickly stood out. According to her grandfather, Caitlin could already dribble and read the court like a pro by the age of five. Even as a young child, she played with fierce determination and drive, traits that would come to define her game.
She starred at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, where she built an impressive resume. In 2019, during her junior year, she dropped 60 points in a single game and helped lead the U.S. under-19 team to a gold medal on the international stage. By the time she graduated in 2020, she had scored 2,547 points in her high school career (ranking among Iowa’s all-time greats) and was honored as Miss Iowa Basketball.
College basketball career
Caitlin’s college career at the University of Iowa was dazzling from the start. As a freshman in 2020–21, she averaged 26.6 points and 7.1 assists per game and earned the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. She also led the U.S. team to a gold medal at the under-19 world championship, where she was named tournament MVP. By her sophomore year, she was posting nearly a triple-double each game.
While Iowa’s 2022 tournament run ended earlier than hoped, Clark kept leveling up. Her junior year brought national attention. She averaged 27.8 points per game and led Iowa to the national title game, capturing the Associated Press Player of the Year honor along the way. Her semifinal performance—41 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists—was unforgettable. That year’s championship game drew nearly 10 million viewers, a record at the time.
Senior year
Clark’s senior season in 2023–24 turned into something bigger than basketball. With sold-out arenas, over a million Instagram followers, and national buzz, she became a cultural icon. On February 15, 2024, in a game against Michigan, she broke Kelsey Plum’s NCAA women’s scoring record just minutes into the game on one of her signature deep threes. She finished the night with a career-high 49 points and 13 assists. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal declared her the “best female collegiate player ever.”
Clark didn’t just turn heads with her deep three-pointers and bold playmaking, she rewrote the NCAA record books. In 2024, she surpassed Pete Maravich’s longstanding all-time scoring record of 3,667 points, becoming the highest scorer in NCAA basketball history across both women’s and men’s divisions. Although Clark had another year of eligibility (due to the pandemic), she announced she’d enter the 2024 WNBA draft.
Caitlin Clark in the WNBA
Clark was the top pick in the 2024 draft, selected by the Indiana Fever. She debuted professionally on May 14, scoring 20 points but also learning on the fly with 10 turnovers in a loss to the Connecticut Sun. Still, her rookie season was a triumph: she averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game, and set new rookie records for both total assists (337) and points (769). Her play helped lead the Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016, and she was later named WNBA Rookie of the Year. Let’s summarize some of this information……
WNBA rookie records
- Most points scored at 769
- Most assists at 337
- Most turnovers with 223
- Tallied 14 double-doubles, the most by a rookie guard and the most in Indiana Fever history
- Hit 122 three-pointers, a rookie record and second-most in WNBA history (behind Sabrina Ionescu’s 128)
- Became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double, and added a second later in the season (also the first and second triple-doubles in Indiana Fever history)
- Became the first player ever to be named WNBA Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month in the same month
- Named WNBA Rookie of the Month four times
- Set Fever single-season records for:
- Most double-doubles
- Most three-pointers
- Most games with 10+ assists (At the time of this writing, she’s the franchise all-time leader.)
WNBA all-star records
- Became the ninth rookie ever to be named a WNBA All-Star starter
- Earned a record 700,735 fan votes
- Set the record for most assists by a rookie in an All-Star Game with 10
Philanthropy
The Caitlin Clark Foundation is inspired by Caitlin’s passion on the court. It aims to uplift youth and their communities through education, nutrition, and sports. These are the three pillars that shaped her own journey. The foundation promotes strong literacy and learning, supports access to proper nutrition to fuel growth, and creates opportunities in sports to help young people build lifelong skills like teamwork and perseverance.
Some of their projects:
- Donation of 22,000 children’s books with an emphasis on programs for kids without easy access to reading materials
- Support for the Coralville Community Food Pantry
- Winter gear and sports equipment for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa
- Back-to-school backpacks
Caitlin made a surprise appearance at one of her foundation’s backpack giveaways in Des Moines. She took time to sign autographs and scrimmage with the kids. Imagine their excitement! I love how she’s already giving back to her community, and in her trademark BIG way!
Do you have any Caitlin Clark trivia to share?
I’d love to hear more! Feel free to drop your information in the comments.
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Fondly,
Crysti
