While Caitlin Clark is known for her incredible skills as a former Iowa Division I and current WNBA Indiana Fever basketball player, her impact shoots beyond the court.
The Rookie of the Year stole the hearts of Hoosiers in a famously basketball-obsessed state and has created a new phenomenon for girls’ and women’s basketball now in the heart of their own season.
Teagan Cox, a smiley third-grade New Castle girl proudly wearing a sweatshirt with Clark’s No. 22 on the front and back, said her interest in the basketball star started when she saw her on TV, which then grew her confidence in her own abilities.
“Like, whenever I started playing, I didn’t really know that she played until I started seeing her on things,” said Cox. “She made me feel like I could play too.”
Teagan’s favorite thing about Clark is the inspiration she’s brought to her.
“She makes me feel like I can be as good as she is,” Teagan said.
New Castle is home to the largest high-school gymnasium in the nation, New Castle Fieldhouse, which seats more than 8,000 fans and where young girls like Cox will grow up to play.
Alyssa Wilson, head girls’ basketball coach at New Castle High School, says she notices a change in the atmosphere due to Clark. During practice in the gigantic gym, the words “Clark” echo across the court when a three-pointer is made, versus the old exclamations of influential male basketball players.
“[She is] a pop culture effect,” Wilson said. “She changed the narrative.”
Wilson enjoys how much attention Clark has brought to basketball, as she is able to discuss her with her players and use her as an example. However, she believes her skills influence female athletes in general.
Some of her favorite attributes of Clark are how hard she plays and the competitiveness she brings to the game. She also admires her reactions during the game, as it shows she takes the game seriously.
“[She’s] not afraid to show emotion on the court; she cares,” Wilson said.
Wilson advises players to exhibit her work ethic by observing her.
“[It’s] not just the way she plays; it’s the hard work and extra time she puts in,” said Wilson. “That is what it takes to excel. You have to do extra training and work outside of practice and games.”
Clark’s accomplishments have also piqued the interest of men, as she has shattered viewing records. For example, her first game with the Fever was ESPN’s most watched WBNA game ever.
Chad Tabor, JV girls’ basketball coach at New Castle High School, believes her influence has changed men’s perspective on the game.
“It’s crazy the impact, and it goes out more than girls, I think,” said Tabor. “I’ll use my son, for example. When [my daughter] Cameron had games or there was girls’ basketball on or whatever, he would always make these comments, you know, ‘It’s just girls’ basketball.’ Well now, when Caitlin is on, he watches.”
He isn’t the only one. Her win against LSU’s Angel Reese back in February had 12 million viewers, a number that used to seem impossible to reach for women’s games.
Tabor has high hopes for the future of women’s basketball, thanks to Clark.
“As far as being a coach of girls’ basketball, … my hope would be that it gets more girls interested in playing basketball,” Tabor said. “I think you’ll see that as we go, especially as some of the younger kids, you know, maybe fourth, fifth, sixth, into junior high, I’ll think you’ll see more kids play when they get to high school because of her.”
He thinks her main attraction comes from her relationship with fans.
“One part that makes her so popular and well liked would be how she interacts with kids and, you know, younger players. She seems to always make time for them,” Tabor said. “She is always doing autographs. I think she just gets it, like she is on a platform where she can influence, you know, kids, and I think she understands that.”
Like Wilson, he is impressed by the effort she puts into the sport, even more than her skillset.
“She’s very confident, and she goes hard. I think her work ethic is very strong, and I think that’s why she is so good, because she’s got that will to win, good work ethic, and she puts in the time. It’s no coincidence that she is one of the greatest because it doesn’t happen if you don’t work hard,” said Tabor.
Those on the college scene have also had firsthand experience of Clark’s effect on the sport.
Bailey Parham was a successful basketball player at Tri High School in Straughn. Now a sophomore basketball player at the University of Illinois-Springfield, she said she has personally witnessed Clark’s influence on players.
“Being around my teammates here, who were supporting her and like looking up to her and the records she was breaking and thinking, like, in the NCAA, we have the ability to do that too, like some of my teammates, we’ll talk about that,” said Parham.
She has also seen the change in attendance during games.
“I went to a couple Fever games this year. We had went to games before that, and the years before that, and just seeing a difference in the crowd—like, there are so many more fans there,” she said. “I think she just brought a whole new fanbase to the game. So many people that were never even interested in watching the WNBA before, or girls’ sports in general, I think have watched her and started to follow her teams, and it has been really cool to see her do that.”
Parham finds Clark’s main attribute, aside from her talents on the court as an “unbelievable shooter,” to be the way she has dealt with her popularity and fame.
“She stays composed and, like, she’s had a lot of stuff put on her this year, you know, like being a rookie, just being able to handle all that. Like, so many people are watching her, and all eyes are on her about everything, and I just think she’s done a really good job handling all that,” said Parham.
She also admires the way Clark never gives up no matter what she is handed and tries to implement that in her own game.
“Just to keep playing no matter what is thrown at you, no matter the situation, and whatever you get handed, you have to face it and just keep playing through everything,” she concluded.
Livvi Lee, an athletic third-grade basketball player from New Castle, says she is a huge fan of Clark for two main reasons: her attitude for the sport and the choices she makes on the court.
“She’s athletic and has good sportsmanship,” Livi says. “I like how she shoots her three pointers and stuff, gets her teammates the ball.”
Third-grader Harper White sat doing homework after school, her eyes lighting up at the words “Caitlin Clark.” Her admiration for Clark goes back to the player’s college days at the University of Iowa. Harper has also seen her in action at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during a Fever game.
“She’s a good basketball player, and she supports her team,” said Harper.
Clark’s mere presence in the WNBA has made girls like Harper feel supported and inspired in their own athletic endeavors, she says, and she’s happy she plays the same sport.
Lucy Kinnard, a third-grader with a blond ponytail, shyly approached a reporter in the elementary school gymnasium. At the mention of Clark, her demeanor changed.
“She’s a good teammate, and she perseveres,” Lucy said, her description of Clark summing up the thoughts of almost everyone in the country.
“She’s an icon.”
Franklin College senior and Statehouse File reporter Averi Phelps completed this article as part of her senior project. Phelps graduated in December 2024.
