Caitlin Clark
Born 2002 · Age 23
American basketball player; NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer, two-time national player of the year at Iowa, 2024 No. 1 WNBA draft pick by the Indiana Fever, 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, widely credited with boosting popularity of women's basketball ('Caitlin Clark effect').
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Des Moines, Iowa
Caitlin Elizabeth Clark was born to Brent and Anne Clark in Des Moines, Iowa.
Began playing basketball
Started playing basketball at age five; played in boys' recreational leagues because no girls' league was available.
Joined All Iowa Attack AAU program (approx.)
Joined the All Iowa Attack AAU travel program in sixth grade and played there through high school.
USA U16 – FIBA Americas Gold
Represented the United States at the FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship and won a gold medal.
Won Nike EYBL championship with All Iowa Attack
Led All Iowa Attack to an EYBL title, scoring 23 points in the title game final against Cal Storm.
USA U19 – FIBA World Cup Gold (team)
Won gold with the United States at the FIBA U19 World Cup (2019 roster involvement).
Named Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year (junior)
Earned Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year honors during junior season.
Scored 60 points in a high school game
During junior season at Dowling Catholic, scored 60 points (second-highest in Iowa history) and made 13 three-pointers in a 90–78 win over Mason City HS.
Set Class 5A state tournament single-game scoring record
Scored 42 points in a 75–70 triple-overtime quarterfinal win over Waukee HS.
Committed to the University of Iowa
Announced commitment to play college basketball at Iowa over offers including Iowa State and Notre Dame.
High school senior honors & class of 2020 recognition
Finished high school career with 2,547 points (4th-most in Iowa five-on-five history); selected McDonald's All-American and named Iowa Miss Basketball and two-time Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year.
College debut for Iowa Hawkeyes
Collegiate debut: 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists in 96–81 win over Northern Iowa.
30 points and 13 assists vs Drake
Posted first collegiate double-double with 30 points and 13 assists in a 103–97 victory.
Registered triple-double vs Western Illinois
Recorded 13 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists — first Iowa triple-double since 2015.
National freshman awards & Dawn Staley Award
Won Dawn Staley Award (best Division I guard), shared Tamika Catchings Award and WBCA National Freshman of the Year with Paige Bueckers; Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Led NCAA Division I in scoring (freshman)
Averaged 26.6 points per game and led Division I in total points, assists, field goals and 3-pointers as a freshman.
Freshman season NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Led Iowa to the Sweet 16; scored 35 points in NCAA second round and set program tournament single-game records.
Entered sophomore season as rising star
Returned as Iowa's starting point guard with national expectations after freshman success.
USA U19 – FIBA World Cup MVP & Gold
Named Most Valuable Player and won gold at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Women's World Cup.
Unanimous first-team All-American & Big Ten Player of the Year (sophomore)
Named Big Ten Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team All-American; first women's player to lead Division I in points and assists in a season.
Triple-double (31/10/10) vs Nebraska
Recorded 31 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists — fourth career triple-double.
Consecutive 30-point triple-double (35/13/11) vs Minnesota
Posted another triple-double four days after the previous one; first Division I player (men's or women's) with consecutive 30-point triple-doubles.
Recorded 18 assists in a single game vs Penn State
Set Iowa program single-game assists record and tied Big Ten single-game mark with 18 assists.
Big Ten tournament champion & MOP (2022)
Led Iowa to the Big Ten tournament title and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Named preseason AP unanimous All-American for 2023–24
Entered senior season as unanimous AP preseason All-American and preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.
Historic triple-double vs Ohio State (28/15/10)
Recorded 28 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in a victory over AP No. 2 Ohio State.
Buzzer-beater & 34/9/9 vs Indiana
Hit a game-winning three at the buzzer and posted 34 points, nine rebounds and nine assists vs No. 2 Indiana.
Big Ten tournament MOP & triple-double in final
Recorded 30 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds in the Big Ten tournament final vs Ohio State — first triple-double in the tournament final.
National Player of the Year (2023) & sweep of major awards
Won AP Player of the Year, Naismith, Wooden, USBWA, Wade Trophy and became first unanimous national player of the year in Big Ten history.
Elite Eight 41/12/10 vs Louisville — first 30/40-point tournament triple-double
Recorded 41 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to become the first player in men's or women's NCAA tournament history to post a 30- or 40-point triple-double.
Broke NCAA single-tournament scoring record (191 points)
Scored 191 points in the NCAA tournament, breaking the men's and women's single-tournament scoring record; added 60 assists, most in women's tournament history.
Began dating Connor McCaffery
Publicly noted relationship with former Iowa men's player Connor McCaffery began in April 2023.
Won Best Female College Athlete ESPY and Honda Cup
Earned Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award and the Honda Cup recognizing the top women's college athlete.
Crossover at Kinnick exhibition — triple-double and attendance record
Recorded 34 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 94–72 exhibition at Kinnick Stadium before 55,646 fans — a women's basketball attendance record.
Reached 3,000 career points (second-fastest)
Became the 15th Division I player to reach 3,000 career points and the second-fastest to the mark during a 35-point performance vs Iowa State.
Media & cultural impact: 'Caitlin Clark effect' & major visibility
Clark's play and persona drove record TV viewership, attendance, merchandise sales and mainstream coverage — widely credited with revitalizing interest in women's basketball.
Established Caitlin Clark Foundation (announced involvement)
Founded the Caitlin Clark Foundation to support youth via education, nutrition and sports (biography sources indicate foundation existence; precise founding date not specified).
Reported impact on Indiana Fever & league finances (merchandise/attendance spike)
Indiana reported massive increases in jersey sales (triple- to quadruple-digit increases reported) and the Fever set WNBA single-season home attendance records; league attendance rose substantially in 2024.
Named to Forbes 'World's 100 Most Powerful Women' and Forbes 30 Under 30 (2024)
Recognized by Forbes on high-profile lists reflecting influence beyond the court.
Reported multiyear endorsement deal with Nike (widely reported figure)
Reports (Biography and other outlets) indicated a multiyear Nike endorsement reportedly worth approximately $28 million (reported figure, not necessarily immediate cash).
Public estimate of net worth ~ $3–5M (multiple outlets)
Celebrity Net Worth and reporting around 2024 estimated Caitlin Clark's net worth at roughly $5M, driven largely by NIL earnings (reports vary).
Joined ownership group bidding for NWSL expansion team (Cincinnati bid)
Signed onto an ownership group attempting to bring a National Women's Soccer League team to Cincinnati (bid unsuccessful).
Broke Big Ten all-time scoring record
Scored 35 points with 10 assists vs Northwestern to surpass Kelsey Mitchell as the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer.
Reached 1,000 career assists (Division I)
Became the sixth Division I women's player to reach 1,000 career assists in a game at Nebraska where she tallied 31 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds.
Became NCAA Division I women's career scoring leader (passed Kelsey Plum)
Scored a career-high 49 points with 13 assists vs Michigan to surpass Kelsey Plum's women's scoring record (and set Iowa's single-game record).
Set Division I single-season 3-pointers and Big Ten career 3-pointer records
Posted a triple-double (33/12/10) vs Minnesota, set Big Ten career 3s record and the NCAA single-season 3-pointers record.
Big Ten tournament title & MOP (third straight)
Led Iowa to a third straight Big Ten tournament championship and was named tournament Most Outstanding Player after a 34/12/7 performance in the final (OT vs Nebraska).
Became NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer (men's or women's) — passed Pete Maravich
Recorded 35 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds vs No. 2 Ohio State to surpass Pete Maravich's all-time Division I scoring mark.
Saturday Night Live cameo
Made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live in April 2024 amid national attention after the NCAA season.
Elite Eight rematch vs LSU — 41/12/7; advanced to Final Four
Scored 41 points with 12 assists and 7 rebounds in a 94–87 win over LSU to reach the Final Four; nine 3-pointers tied tournament single-game record.
Swept national player of the year awards (second straight year)
Won AP Player of the Year, Naismith, Wooden, USBWA, Wade Trophy and other national honors for the second consecutive season.
Reached second consecutive NCAA championship game (lost to South Carolina)
Scored 30 points in the national title game; Iowa lost 87–75 to South Carolina.
Announced intention to enter 2024 WNBA draft
Declared for the 2024 WNBA draft, foregoing a fifth season of eligibility granted for COVID-19.
Selected No. 1 overall in 2024 WNBA Draft
Drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA draft.
Signed rookie scale contract with Indiana Fever
Signed her WNBA rookie-scale contract with the Indiana Fever.
WNBA regular-season debut (20 points, 10 turnovers)
Scored 20 points but committed 10 turnovers in her WNBA debut in a 92–71 loss to the Connecticut Sun — most turnovers in a WNBA debut in history.
Tied rookie single-game 3-pointers with seven
Scored 30 points and tied the WNBA rookie single-game record with seven 3-pointers; also had 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals.
Set Indiana Fever single-game assists record (13)
Recorded 13 assists (Fever single-game record) along with 17 points and 6 rebounds vs Chicago Sky.
Time Athlete of the Year (2024)
Named Time magazine Athlete of the Year for 2024 in recognition of athletic performance and cultural impact.
Selected to 2024 WNBA All-Star Game
Named to the WNBA All-Star Game in her rookie season.
First WNBA rookie to record a triple-double
Recorded a triple-double (19 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists) — the first triple-double by a WNBA rookie and first in Fever history.
Won Best Female College Athlete and Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY (2024)
At the 2024 ESPYs, became the first woman to win the Best Record-Breaking Performance award and also won Best Female College Athlete.
Set WNBA single-game assists record (19)
Recorded 19 assists in a game vs Dallas Wings, breaking the WNBA single-game assists record; scored or assisted on 66 points, surpassing Diana Taurasi's 'points produced' mark.
Broke rookie single-season assist record
Surpassed Ticha Penicheiro's rookie single-season assist record in a 92–75 win over the Seattle Storm.
Broke rookie single-season 3-pointers record
Broke the rookie record for 3-pointers made in a season, surpassing Rhyne Howard's 2022 mark (during an 84–80 win over the Connecticut Sun).
Broke WNBA single-season assist record (337)
Broke the WNBA single-season assist record in a loss to the Las Vegas Aces; finished season with 337 assists (league record).
Broke WNBA rookie scoring record (35 in game; season 769)
Scored a career-high 35 points in a 110–109 win vs Dallas (surpassed Seimone Augustus' rookie scoring record); finished rookie season with 769 points (rookie season record).
Named WNBA Rookie of the Year
Won 2024 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year (66 of 67 votes); also became first rookie since Candace Parker to make All-WNBA First Team.
Estimated NIL & endorsement earnings while at Iowa
Multiple outlets estimate Clark earned more than $3 million in NIL deals during her Iowa career (sponsorships with Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, Buick, etc.).
Time Athlete of the Year & AP Female Athlete of the Year (2024)
Named Time magazine Athlete of the Year and AP Female Athlete of the Year in recognition of 2024 season and broader impact.
Iowa retired Clark's No. 22 jersey
University of Iowa retired Caitlin Clark's No. 22 jersey following a ceremony after the Hawkeyes' win vs USC.
Opened 2025 WNBA season with triple-double
Recorded her third career triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) in the Fever's 93–58 season-opening win over the Chicago Sky.
Returned from quadriceps strain with 32/8/9 and seven 3s
Returned from a left quadriceps strain to score 32 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and seven three-pointers in a Fever win over the New York Liberty.
Named 2025 WNBA All-Star captain with record votes
Earned All-Star captaincy after receiving 1,293,526 fan votes — most in league history.
WNBA Best WNBA Player ESPY Award (2025)
At the 2025 ESPY Awards, Caitlin Clark won the award for Best WNBA Player for her 2024 season performance.
Withdrew from 2025 All-Star participation due to injury
Opted out of the All-Star Game and Three-Point Contest to rest and manage soft tissue injuries (right groin/other soft tissue concerns).
Key Achievement Ages
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