WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark has revealed the driving force behind her remarkable success, stating “I don’t want anyone to be better than me”. The 22-year-old has had a phenomenal year, being drafted by the Indiana Fever in April and subsequently taking the league by storm.
Although her team’s playoff run was cut short, Clark’s impressive performances earned her the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year title, leaving a lasting impact in her debut season. This week, Clark is trading her basketball shoes for golf clubs as she participates in an LPGA event alongside legends like Annika Sorenstam and Nelly Korda.
Prior to teeing off, Clark shared her motivations during a panel discussion, offering a glimpse into what fuels her exceptional athletic abilities. When asked about her biggest motivator, Clark replied:”Oh man. I think wanting to be the best. Like, I don’t want anyone to be better than me.”
Her determination is hard to match, and it’s clear that Clark is currently one of the most dominant forces in the WNBA. The Iowa native’s impressive college basketball career, where she became the highest scorer in NCAA Division 1 history with 3,951 points, set the stage for her professional success, as per the Irish Star.
She also scooped back-to-back national Player of the Year awards before making her mark in the major leagues this year. Her trophy cabinet already boasts FIBA Under-19 World Cup gold medals from 2019 and 2021, alongside a triumph at the FIBA Americas U-16 Championships in 2017.
Her first season with the Fever has only heightened the buzz surrounding her. Averaging 19.2 points per game, coupled with 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds, she wrapped up her debut season as only the fifth rookie to earn a place on the All-WNBA First Team, setting records for the most assists in a single season (337) and the highest number of assists in one game (19).
The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay even penned in August that Clark’s impact on women’s basketball mirrors the seismic influence Golden State Warriors icon Steph Curry has had on the NBA. Known for revolutionising the game with his incredible three-point shooting, Clark has received similar praise for her long-range prowess.
“Clark is far from the first great shooter in women’s basketball,” Gay said.”But she’s the one who is changing the dimensionality of the game, because of the distance she can shoot from and how well she can pass.”
The Clark phenomenon has surged to a crescendo, achieving astounding TV viewership levels in her concluding seasons with Iowa. Upon the finale of Fever’s stint, instead of teaming up with Angel Reese of Chicago Sky for the Unrivalled League, Clark declared she would be stepping back to revitalise herself.
“Year one – thank you to the many people who have supported me as I’ve been able to live my childhood dream. I’m filled with gratitude as I reflect on this past year of my life. See you all in year two,” she said on social media.
Clark’s financials are soaring right along with her popularity. Marca cites the staggering sum of roughly £3.1million ($4m) as her current net worth, propelled by a solid four-year engagement with Fever which pockets her £261,000 ($338,000). Her lucrative endorsement packages, including a Nike deal, is projected to fetch a cool £21.6m ($28m) over its eight-year span.
Clark’s celebrity status is flowering in unprecedented ways, leaving even the savviest of sports commentators gobsmacked. Whether it’s mingling with Kansas City Chief’s luminary Travis Kelce at Taylor Swift gigs or receiving plaudits from San Antonio Spurs’ giant Victor Wembanyama, who dubbed Clark as one of the most “impressive” talents he’s witnessed, her star doesn’t look to be burning out anytime soon.
