Caitlin Clark facts for kids
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Clark with the Indiana Fever in 2024
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| No. 22 – Indiana Fever | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Point guard | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | January 22, 2002 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
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| High school | Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, Iowa) |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 152 lb (69 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Iowa (2020–2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2024 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Indiana Fever | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2024–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | WNBA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Indiana Fever | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Caitlin Elizabeth Clark (born January 22, 2002) is an American professional basketball player. She plays for the Indiana Fever in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Before joining the WNBA, she played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Many people think she is one of the best college players ever.
Caitlin holds the record for the most points scored in NCAA Division I history. She was also named the best college player in the country twice. Her amazing college career helped make women's basketball much more popular. This increase in popularity is even called the "Caitlin Clark effect".
Clark went to Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. There, she was named a McDonald's All-American. ESPN ranked her as the fourth-best player in her high school class. In her first year at Iowa, she led all NCAA Division I players in scoring. She also earned All-American honors.
As a sophomore, Caitlin was a top All-American. She became the first woman to lead Division I in both points and assists in one season. In her junior year, she was named the national player of the year. She led Iowa to its first ever national championship game. She also led Division I in assists again. She set new Big Ten records for points and assists in a single season.
In her senior year, she was again named national player of the year. She helped Iowa get back to the national title game. Caitlin became the all-time leader in points and three-pointers for Division I women's basketball. She also broke the conference record for assists. She led the whole country in both points and assists.
Caitlin has also won three gold medals with the United States youth teams. Two of these were at the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup. She was even named the Most Valuable Player at the 2021 tournament.
The Indiana Fever picked Clark as the first overall player in the 2024 WNBA draft. In her first WNBA season, she won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. She also made the All-WNBA First Team and was chosen for the WNBA All-Star Game. She set new WNBA records for assists in a season and in a single game. She broke the rookie scoring record and was the first rookie to get a triple-double.
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Growing Up and Early Basketball
Caitlin Clark was born on January 22, 2002, in Des Moines, Iowa. She grew up nearby in West Des Moines, Iowa. She started playing basketball when she was five years old. At first, she played in boys' leagues because there wasn't a girls' league for her age.
As a child, Caitlin also played softball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and golf. But she eventually decided to focus on basketball. When she was 13, she started playing in girls' leagues with older players. In sixth grade, she joined a basketball team called All Iowa Attack. She played for them until she finished high school.
Caitlin looked up to Maya Moore from the Minnesota Lynx, a WNBA team. She would travel with her dad to watch their games.
High School Basketball Star
Clark played four years of varsity basketball at Dowling Catholic High School. As a freshman, she scored about 15 points per game. She helped her team reach the state tournament.
In her sophomore year, she scored 27 points per game. She was named the best player in her league by The Des Moines Register. She also led her AAU team, All Iowa Attack, to a championship.
During her junior year, on February 4, 2019, Caitlin scored an amazing 60 points in one game! This was the second-highest score ever in Iowa girls' basketball history. She also set a state record by making 13 three-pointers in that game. Later, she scored 42 points in a state tournament game, which was another record. She was named Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year.
As a senior, Clark led the state in scoring for the second time. She finished her high school career with the fourth-most points in Iowa history. She was again named Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and Iowa Miss Basketball. She was chosen for the McDonald's All-American Game, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Choosing a College Team
Many top college basketball teams wanted Caitlin Clark to play for them. ESPN ranked her as the number one player in her high school class when she was a sophomore. She decided to play college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes. She liked their fast-paced offense and how coach Lisa Bluder helped point guards get better.
College Career Highlights
Freshman Year Success
Caitlin started as Iowa's main point guard in her freshman year. In her first game, she scored 27 points. In her second game, she had 30 points and 13 assists. On December 22, she got her first triple-double (scoring double digits in three different stats).
She scored a season-high 39 points against Nebraska. She was named Big Ten Conference Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year and made the first-team All-Big Ten. She set a Big Ten record for being Freshman of the Week 13 times.
Caitlin helped Iowa reach the finals of the Big Ten tournament. In the NCAA tournament, she scored 35 points against Kentucky. Iowa made it to the Sweet 16. She was named an All-American by several groups. She also won the Dawn Staley Award for best guard. As a freshman, she averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. She led Division I in scoring.
Sophomore Year Records
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In her sophomore year, Caitlin continued to shine. On January 2, 2022, she scored 44 points against Evansville. She became the fastest Big Ten player to reach 1,000 career points. On January 16, she got her fourth career triple-double. Four days later, she had another triple-double with 35 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. She was the first Division I player to have back-to-back triple-doubles with at least 30 points.
On February 6, Caitlin scored a season-high 46 points against Michigan. She led Iowa to a share of the Big Ten regular season title. She was named Big Ten Player of the Year.
Iowa won the Big Ten tournament, and Caitlin was named the best player. She was a unanimous first-team All-American. She won the Dawn Staley Award again and the Nancy Lieberman Award for best point guard. As a sophomore, she averaged 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. She was the first woman to lead Division I in both points and assists per game in one season.
Junior Year: National Recognition
Caitlin was expected to be a top player in her junior year. On December 1, she scored a season-high 45 points. Three days later, she got her seventh career triple-double. She broke the Big Ten record for career triple-doubles.
On January 23, 2023, Caitlin had 28 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds against undefeated Ohio State. On February 26, she scored 34 points and made a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer against Indiana. She was again named Big Ten Player of the Year.
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Clark led Iowa to win the Big Ten tournament again. In the final game, she had a triple-double with 30 points, 17 assists, and 10 rebounds. This was the first triple-double in the tournament final. In the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, she had 41 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. She was the first player in tournament history to get a 30 or 40-point triple-double. Iowa reached the Final Four for the first time since 1993.
In the Final Four, she scored 41 points against undefeated South Carolina, ending their 42-game winning streak. She broke the scoring record for the women's tournament semifinals. Iowa made it to their first national championship game. They lost to LSU, even though Caitlin scored 30 points. She made eight three-pointers in the game, a record for a title game. After the game, LSU star Angel Reese made some gestures towards Clark. Clark later defended Reese from criticism.
Caitlin scored 191 points in the tournament, breaking the men's and women's scoring records for a single NCAA tournament. She also had the most assists in women's tournament history.
Clark won all the major national player of the year awards, including the Naismith College Player of the Year. She won the Nancy Lieberman Award for the second time and the Dawn Staley Award for the third time. She was a unanimous first-team All-American again. As a junior, she averaged 27.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game. She led Division I in assists and was second in scoring. She set Big Ten records for points, assists, three-pointers, and free throws. She also won the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award and the James E. Sullivan Award.
Senior Year: All-Time Records
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In her senior year, Caitlin was named preseason Big Ten Player of the Year. On October 15, 2023, she played in a special game called Crossover at Kinnick at Kinnick Stadium. She had a triple-double, and the game set a women's basketball attendance record with over 55,000 fans.
On November 12, Caitlin recorded her 12th career triple-double. She became Iowa's all-time leading scorer. A week later, she broke the record for most 30-point games in women's Division I history.
On December 6, 2023, Clark became the 15th Division I player to reach 3,000 career points. On December 30, she became the Big Ten's all-time leader in assists. On January 2, 2024, Caitlin scored 40 points and made a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. She broke the Big Ten record for most Player of the Week awards. On January 21, she scored 45 points in an overtime loss. After the game, she was accidentally knocked down by a fan rushing the court but was not hurt.
On January 31, 2024, Clark broke the Big Ten all-time scoring record. In February, Fox TV even started a "Caitlin Cam" to follow her during games. On February 15, she became the NCAA Division I women's career scoring leader. She finished that game with a career-high 49 points. On February 28, she became the all-time leading scorer among major women's college players. She also set the Big Ten career record for three-pointers and the NCAA single-season record for three-pointers.
On March 3, Caitlin became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer for both men's and women's players, passing Pete Maravich. She finished the regular season as the Big Ten Player of the Year.
At the 2024 Big Ten tournament, Clark broke the record for most three-pointers in a single season by any Division I player. She led Iowa to their third straight Big Ten tournament title. In the NCAA tournament, she broke the record for most points in a single season in Division I women's history. In the Elite Eight, she scored 41 points and had 12 assists against LSU, leading Iowa to their second straight Final Four. She also broke NCAA tournament career records for assists and three-pointers.
In the Final Four, Iowa beat UConn, and Clark helped them reach the national championship game again. In the title game, Iowa lost to South Carolina. Clark scored 18 points in the first quarter, a record for a championship game. She also broke the NCAA tournament career scoring record.
Clark was named national player of the year for the second straight season. She won the Nancy Lieberman Award for the third time and was a unanimous first-team All-American. In her senior season, she averaged 31.6 points and 8.9 assists per game, leading Division I in both. She finished her college career with the most career points (3,951) and three-pointers (548) in Division I history. Iowa decided to retire her jersey number 22.
On February 29, 2024, Caitlin announced she would enter the 2024 WNBA draft. Many experts thought she would be the first overall pick.
Professional Career with the Indiana Fever
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On April 15, 2024, the Indiana Fever picked Caitlin Clark as the first overall player in the 2024 WNBA draft. She signed her first professional contract on April 27. In her first game on May 14, she scored 20 points.
On May 24, Caitlin got her first double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. This helped the Fever win their first game of the season. On June 7, she scored 30 points and tied a rookie record with seven three-pointers. She also had eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a win.
On June 23, Clark set a Fever team record with 13 assists in one game. On July 2, she was chosen to play in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game. She received the most fan votes of any player in the league. Four days later, she became the first WNBA rookie and first Fever player to get a triple-double. She had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists in a win. On July 17, she set a new WNBA record for assists in a single game with 19.
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On August 18, 2024, Clark set a new WNBA rookie assist record. Ten days later, she broke the record for three-pointers made in a rookie season. On September 4, she got her second triple-double. On September 13, she broke the single-season assist record for the WNBA. Two days later, she scored a career-high 35 points, passing the rookie scoring record.
Caitlin finished her first WNBA season averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists (leading the league), and 5.7 rebounds per game. She made 122 three-pointers, the second-most in a single season in WNBA history. She led the Fever to their best record since 2016 and their first playoff appearance. The Fever lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Clark was named WNBA Rookie of the Year. She was also the first rookie since 2008 to make the All-WNBA First Team. In December 2024, Time magazine named her Athlete of the Year.
Playing for Team USA
Youth National Team
Caitlin Clark played for the United States at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship. She helped her team win the gold medal. She also played at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup and won another gold medal. At the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup, she led the U.S. to a gold medal. She was named the Most Valuable Player of that tournament.
Senior National Team
In March 2024, Caitlin was invited to a training camp for the 2024 Summer Olympics team. However, she couldn't go because she was playing in the NCAA tournament. She was not chosen for the final Olympic team. This decision caused some discussion because of her popularity. The Olympic committee said they chose players based on how well they play in international games and their experience with the senior national team.
Caitlin's Playing Style
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Caitlin Clark is 6 feet tall and plays point guard. Experts say she is very good at offense. She can score from close up, mid-range, and especially from far behind the three-point line. Her long-range shooting is often compared to NBA player Stephen Curry.
Analysts also praise her passing skills. She can make amazing passes, even through defenders. Her ability to score and pass makes her great at plays like the pick and roll. Sometimes, she has a lot of turnovers because of her aggressive style of play. People have compared her talent and personality to famous players like Diana Taurasi.
Her Impact on Basketball
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Many people believe Caitlin Clark is one of the greatest women's college basketball players ever. ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo called her the best offensive women's college player since Diana Taurasi. Her unique shooting range has made her a game-changing player in women's basketball. Her impact is often compared to Stephen Curry's impact on men's basketball. USA Today said she has "redefined what a good shot is."
Caitlin is credited with making women's basketball much more popular during her college career. This is known as the "Caitlin Clark effect." More people started attending games and watching them on TV because of her. The 2023 national championship game became the most-watched women's college basketball game ever, with 9.9 million viewers.
During her senior season, Iowa sold out all their home games for the first time. A preseason game she played in set a women's basketball attendance record with 55,646 fans. Every team that hosted Iowa during the regular season saw a huge increase in attendance. The 2024 Big Ten tournament also sold out for the first time.
Caitlin's games became the most-watched women's basketball games ever on six different TV networks. Her last regular season game was the most-watched regular season women's basketball game since 1999. At the 2024 NCAA tournament, her final three games broke women's college basketball viewership records. The national championship game had 18.9 million viewers. It was the most-watched basketball game at any level since 2019. It was also the first women's NCAA tournament final to have more viewers than the men's final.
Career Statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | FG% | Field goal percentage |
| 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage | RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game |
| SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | TO | Turnovers per game | PPG | Points per game |
| Bold | Career high | * | Led Division I | ° | Led the league | ‡ | WNBA record |
WNBA
Regular season
Stats current through end of 2024 season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Indiana | 40° | 40° | 35.4 | .417 | .344 | .906 | 5.7 | 8.4° | 1.3 | 0.7 | 5.6 | 19.2 |
| Career | 1 year, 1 team | 40 | 40 | 35.4 | .417 | .344 | .906 | 5.7 | 8.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 5.6 | 19.2 |
| All-Star | 1 | 1 | 26.0 | .222 | .000 | — | 1.0 | 10.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Indiana | 2 | 2 | 38.0 | .350 | .200 | .750 | 5.0 | 8.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 18.0 |
| Career | 1 year, 1 team | 2 | 2 | 38.0 | .350 | .200 | .750 | 5.0 | 8.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 18.0 |
College statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Iowa | 30 | 30 | 34.0 | .472 | .406 | .858 | 5.9 | 7.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 4.8 | 26.6* |
| 2021–22 | Iowa | 32 | 32 | 35.9 | .452 | .332 | .881 | 8.0 | 8.0* | 1.5 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 27.0* |
| 2022–23 | Iowa | 38 | 38 | 34.4 | .473 | .389 | .839 | 7.1 | 8.6* | 1.5 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 27.8 |
| 2023–24 | Iowa | 39 | 39 | 34.8 | .455 | .378 | .860 | 7.4 | 8.9* | 1.8 | 0.5 | 4.7 | 31.6* |
| Career | 139 | 139 | 34.8 | .462 | .377 | .858 | 7.1 | 8.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 4.8 | 28.4 | |
Life Off the Court
Family and Education
Caitlin's father, Brent Clark, played basketball and baseball in college. Her mother, Anne Nizzi-Clark, was a marketing executive. Caitlin has an older brother, Blake, who played college football, and a younger brother, Colin. Her cousin, Audrey Faber, played college basketball. Caitlin is dating Connor McCaffery, who played basketball and baseball for Iowa.
Caitlin was raised Catholic and goes to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. She said her high school had a "special culture" because of its focus on faith.
Clark studied marketing at the University of Iowa and graduated in May 2024. She was named an Academic All-American multiple times for her good grades. She finished college with a 3.64 GPA.
Caitlin loves golf and has played in professional golf events with famous golfers. She is a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. She has even thrown out the first pitch for them. She also supports the Kansas City Chiefs football team.
Sponsorships and Investments
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Caitlin Clark has many endorsement deals with big companies. She was one of the highest-earning college athletes from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Companies like Nike, Gatorade, Hy-Vee, Bose, and State Farm have signed deals with her. In 2023, she became the first college athlete to be a spokesperson for State Farm. Hy-Vee even released a special cereal called "Caitlin's Crunch Time."
In March 2024, Caitlin became the first female athlete to have a special partnership with Panini, a trading card company. She also signed a deal with Gainbridge, a financial company. After she was drafted into the WNBA, reports said she signed a huge eight-year, $28 million contract with Nike, which would include her own signature shoe. She also signed a deal with Wilson Sporting Goods and is the first athlete since Michael Jordan to release her own Wilson basketball collections.
In November 2024, Caitlin joined a group that wants to bring a new National Women's Soccer League team to Cincinnati in 2026.
TV Appearances
Clark made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live in April 2024. She also helped produce an ESPN+ documentary series called Full Court Press. The series followed three women's college basketball players, including Caitlin, during the 2023–24 season.
Giving Back
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In March 2022, Caitlin started working with the Coralville Community Food Pantry in Coralville, Iowa. She encouraged people to donate $22 (her jersey number) to "Team Up Against Hunger." In the first year, they raised over $23,000. A year later, they raised over $75,000. As of 2024, she has helped raise over $100,000 for the food pantry.
In October 2023, Caitlin started the Caitlin Clark Foundation. This group helps young people and their communities through education, healthy food, and sports. Her foundation helps places like The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa and the Coralville Community Food Pantry. Many of her sponsorship deals include donations to her foundation. For example, Gatorade donated $22,000 to her foundation.
In January 2025, the Caitlin Clark Foundation plans to donate 22,000 books to elementary and middle schools in Iowa and Indiana.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The B1G Trip | Herself | 3 episodes |
| Manningcast | Episode: "Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs" | ||
| 2024 | Saturday Night Live | Episode: "Ryan Gosling" | |
| Full Court Press | 4-part docuseries; also executive producer | ||
| 60 Minutes | Season 57, Episode 3 |
Images for kids
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Clark with the Indiana Fever in 2024
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Clark during her 46-point game against Michigan in 2022
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Clark with Iowa at the 2023 Big Ten tournament
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Clark on the sidelines at Crossover at Kinnick in 2023
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Clark in 2023
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Clark at the 2024 Big Ten tournament final
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Clark at open practice before the 2024 national championship game
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Clark shooting for the Indiana Fever in 2024
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Clark (left) being defended by Napheesa Collier in 2024
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Clark in 2024
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Clark signing autographs after a game in 2024
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Clark with "Jake from State Farm" (Kevin Miles) in a promotion for State Farm in 2023
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Clark speaking at an event for the Caitlin Clark Foundation in 2024
See also
In Spanish: Caitlin Clark para niños
- List of career achievements by Caitlin Clark
- List of NCAA Division I basketball career triple-doubles leaders
- List of NCAA Division I women's basketball career scoring leaders
- List of NCAA Division I women's basketball career 3-point scoring leaders
- List of NCAA Division I women's basketball career assists leaders
- List of NCAA Division I women's basketball season scoring leaders
- List of NCAA Division I women's basketball season 3-point field goal leaders
- List of NCAA Division I women's basketball season assists leaders
- Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball statistical leaders
- List of WNBA regular season records
