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10 things you didn't know about Caitlin Clark

Mykenna Maniece   

10 things you didn't know about Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark is a multi-sport athlete.Greg Fiume/Stringer/Getty Images
  • Caitlin Clark is one of the most recognizable names in basketball.
  • She was the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year with the Indiana Fever.

There's no mentioning basketball in 2024 without the inclusion of Caitlin Clark.

The 22-year-old Indiana Fever guard took the WNBA by storm this season, leading her team to its first playoff appearance since 2016 and earning the prestigious Rookie of the Year award.

Her entry to the WNBA alongside a deeply talented roster of fellow rookies marked a groundbreaking season for viewership and revenue.

WNBA champions the New York Liberty felt Clark's impact early on in the season, as its May matchup against the Fever generated more than $2 million in ticket sales, the AP reported.

Liberty power forward Breanna Stewart said, "I think the buzz and eyes that Caitlin has brought from Iowa now to the WNBA is going to be a collective win for all."

Stewart's prediction seemed to ring true, as the WNBA reported in September that the regular season saw a 48% increase in attendance compared to last season, with more than 2.3 million fans, the highest numbers the league's seen in 22 years.

Television viewership rose, too, making this the most-watched WNBA regular season on ESPN, with an average of 1.19 million viewers.

But there's more to Clark than just basketball.

This week, she'll show off her golf skills at the LPGA's Annika pro-am, and she's also a talented soccer player.

Here are other things you might not know about Caitlin Clark.

She's a multi-sport athlete.

She
Clark grew up playing a variety of sports.      Jim McIsaac/Stringer/Getty Images

In an April 2024 episode of "The Pat McAfee Show," Clark said she grew up playing soccer, track, softball, and of course, basketball.

"I was pretty good at soccer — I liked it, but basketball worked out a little better," she said.

Clark is also known for her golf skills and even joked with reporters that she'll "become a professional golfer" during the WNBA offseason.

On Wednesday, she'll show if she's got what it takes when she tees off at the LPGA's Annika pro-am. For the tournament, she's paired with pro golfer Nelly Korda.

Clark played on boys' basketball and soccer teams until she was in sixth grade.

Clark played on boys
Clark said she played on boys' teams growing up.      Emilee Chinn/Contributor/Getty Images

Clark grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa, with her parents, Brent Clark and Anne Nizzi-Clark; her older brother, Blake Clark; and her younger brother, Colin Clark.

In a March 2024 conversation with ESPN's Holly Rowe, Clark said she grew up playing on boys' sports teams for soccer and basketball "until about sixth grade."

"My parents just knew I was a little more advanced in my skill set from a young age," she said, adding that she thinks they struggled to find teams that would be competitive enough to help her improve and still have fun.

"My dad was my coach even when I played with the boys and they all loved him, too. And obviously growing up and having two brothers, I think that certainly helped, like I was always around boys that pushed me and wanted to play sports," Clark said.

Speaking of competition, she once got kicked out of PE class for being too competitive.

Speaking of competition, she once got kicked out of PE class for being too competitive.
Clark said she "really struggled with understanding losing."      Emilee Chinn/Stringer/Getty Images

Clark told Rowe she "really struggled with understanding losing," whether in sports, board games, or other activities.

She added that her competitiveness frequently got her in trouble at school, too.

"I got kicked out of PE class cause I was so competitive," she said.

Clark is a Swiftie.

Clark is a Swiftie.
Clark is a fan of Taylor Swift.      Alex Slitz/Stringer/Getty Images

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce spoke about seeing Clark during a November Eras Tour stop in Indianapolis during an episode of his podcast, "New Heights."

"She was into the show for sure," he said. "She was there with her mom and a few friends. I think this was like her third or fourth show she had been to; she's a Swiftie through and through."

Clark has also made her love for Taylor Swift known on social media.

In January, when her boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, wished her a happy 22nd birthday on Instagram — writing, in part, "Wish I was there to celebrate with you - you deserve the best day [red heart emoji] Golden Bday / T Swift year will be the best yet" — she commented, "acting like u a T swift fan tho is crazy, but I will let this slide hehe."

"I am for you," he responded.

Clark has been dating McCaffery, Butler University men's basketball assistant coach, for over 1 1/2 years.

Clark has been dating McCaffery, Butler University men
Clark and McCaffery were spotted at an Indiana Pacers game together.      Dylan Buell/Contributor/Getty Images

Clark and McCaffery have been dating since April 2023.

Though they've kept most of their relationship private, they have shared a few special moments on social media, including their first anniversary.

In April 2024, Clark shared a black-and-white photo of the couple seemingly taken after the WNBA Draft with the caption, "one year of the best mems with my fav person."

She was a marketing major.

She was a marketing major.
Clark majored in marketing.      Matthew Holst/Contributor/Getty Images

Clark studied marketing at the University of Iowa.

In a September 2023 interview with Tippie News — part of the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business — Clark, then a college senior, spoke about the benefit of pursuing her degree as she navigated the NIL landscape.

"I'm working with executives, accountants and marketers, designers, and getting real-world experience strategically engaging with all these people," she said.

"I should get internship hours for living my daily life running my business and brand."

Clark is the first female athlete to have a signature ball collection with Wilson.

Clark is the first female athlete to have a signature ball collection with Wilson.
In July 2024, Clark launched her first signature collection with Wilson.      Sarah Stier/Staff/Getty Images

In July 2024, Clark became the first female athlete, and just the second athlete ever, to launch a signature collection with Wilson. The first was Michael Jordan.

The "Limitless Series" includes three basketballs, each with its own nod to Clark and her career.

Fast Company reported that the "3951," for example, is an homage to the NCAA-record-setting total points Clark scored throughout her college career at Iowa.

Meanwhile, the "Repetition" features hidden 22s, Clark's longtime jersey number and her birthdate; and the "Ascent" has a black-and-white design that honors her entry to the WNBA.

She also executive-produced a TV show with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning.

She also executive-produced a TV show with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Peyton Manning.
Clark executive produced "Full Court Press" alongside Peyton Manning.      C. Morgan Engel/Contributor/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

The show "Full Court Press" aired on ESPN+ in May 2024 and followed Clark, Kiki Rice, and Kamilla Cardoso through the 2023-2024 women's college basketball season.

She told sports reporter Scott Agness of "Fieldhouse Files," "I honestly wish it was more episodes because there's so much amazing content that we captured."

While filming "Full Court Press," Clark was known for eating bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches.

While filming "Full Court Press," Clark was known for eating bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches.
Clark's go-to breakfast order included a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich and an iced macchiato.      Maddie Meyer/Staff/Getty Images

"Full Court Press" director Kristen Lappas told Forbes that producer Hannah Beir would ask Clark if they could pick up her breakfast order and coffee before shoots, "and it became sort of a tradition."

The order in question: a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich with an iced caramel macchiato with vanilla sweet cream cold foam.

"It is the most classic college breakfast order," Lappas said.

She said the hardest part about being her is always having to be "on."

She said the hardest part about being her is always having to be "on."
Clark said the hardest thing is feeling like she always has to be "on."      Joe Buglewicz/Stringer/Getty Images

In a clip from "Full Court Press," Clark said the hardest part of being her is feeling like she always has to be "on."

"You just have bad days, and there's days where you don't want to talk to anyone, but somebody comes up to you and this is their 10-second interaction with you, so you better smile and be kind," she said.

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