Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Caitlin Clark

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Caitlin Clark made an impact.

Caitlin Clark is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. She achieved widespread recognition during her college career at the University of Iowa, where she became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer and a two-time national player of the year. Clark's success and popularity have significantly boosted the profile of women's basketball, an effect known as the "Caitlin Clark effect." Her impact extends beyond individual accolades, contributing to a surge in viewership and interest in the sport.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1998: Nike Super Bowl Ad

On February 9, 2025, Caitlin Clark was featured in a 90-second Nike commercial during the Super Bowl. The commercial, Nike's first Super Bowl ad since 1998, showcased some of the world's top female athletes.

2017: FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship

In 2017, Caitlin Clark represented the United States at the FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a bench player, she averaged 8.8 points per game, contributing to her team's undefeated 5–0 record and gold medal victory.

February 4, 2019: 60-Point Game against Mason City High School

On February 4, 2019, during her junior season, Caitlin Clark achieved a career milestone by scoring 60 points in a game against Mason City High School. She also set a state single-game record with 13 three-pointers.

November 12, 2019: Commitment to Iowa

On November 12, 2019, Caitlin Clark announced her commitment to play college basketball for Iowa, after reconsidering her verbal commitment to Notre Dame.

2019: Iowa Women's basketball attendance

Before her senior season, Caitlin Clark's team set the women's basketball attendance record (55,646) in a preseason exhibition game in 2019.

2019: FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup

In 2019, Caitlin Clark played at the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand. Over seven games, she averaged 5.3 points per game and secured another gold medal with her team, which finished with a perfect 7–0 record.

November 25, 2020: Collegiate Debut

On November 25, 2020, Caitlin Clark made her collegiate debut, recording 27 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in a victory over Northern Iowa.

January 6, 2021: 37 Points Against Minnesota

On January 6, 2021, Caitlin Clark recorded 37 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in a win against Minnesota.

November 9, 2021: Sophomore Season Debut

On November 9, 2021, Caitlin Clark started her sophomore season, recording 26 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in a win over New Hampshire.

2021: FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup MVP

In 2021, Caitlin Clark led the United States to a gold medal at the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary. She averaged a team-high 14.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game, earning her the Most Valuable Player award and a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

January 2, 2022: 44 Points Against Evansville

On January 2, 2022, Caitlin Clark scored 44 points in a victory over Evansville, breaking the Carver–Hawkeye Arena women's single-game scoring record.

January 16, 2022: Fourth Career Triple-Double

On January 16, 2022, Caitlin Clark achieved her fourth career triple-double, with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win over Nebraska.

March 5, 2022: Big Ten Tournament Semifinals

On March 5, 2022, Caitlin Clark scored 41 points in the Big Ten tournament semifinals, leading Iowa to a win over Nebraska.

March 2022: Partnership with Coralville Community Food Pantry

In March 2022, Caitlin Clark partnered with the Coralville Community Food Pantry in Coralville, Iowa, for a month-long donation push and meet-and-greet to "Team Up Against Hunger", encouraging $22 donations from the public as a nod to Clark's jersey number, and raised over $23,000.

January 23, 2023: Win Over Ohio State

On January 23, 2023, Caitlin Clark posted 28 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds in a win against AP No. 2 Ohio State.

October 15, 2023: Crossover at Kinnick

On October 15, 2023, Caitlin Clark played in the Crossover at Kinnick, a preseason exhibition game against DePaul at Kinnick Stadium. She achieved a triple-double with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, contributing to a 94–72 victory. The game attracted a record-breaking attendance of 55,646, setting a new record for women's basketball.

October 2023: Formation of the Caitlin Clark Foundation

In October 2023, Caitlin Clark formed the Caitlin Clark Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission "to uplift and improve the lives of youth and their communities through education, nutrition, and sport."

December 6, 2023: Reaching 3,000 Career Points

On December 6, 2023, Caitlin Clark became the 15th Division I player to reach 3,000 career points, achieving this milestone with 35 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in a 67–58 victory over Iowa State. She was the second-fastest player to reach this mark.

2023: Most-Viewed Women's College Basketball Game

In 2023, Caitlin Clark helped the national championship game become the most-viewed women's college basketball game in history with 9.9 million viewers.

2023: Signed with Excel Sports Management

In 2023, Caitlin Clark signed with Excel Sports Management.

2023: ESPN+ docuseries Full Court Press

In May 2024, Caitlin Clark served as an executive producer on the ESPN+ docuseries Full Court Press. The series followed three women's college basketball players, including Clark, during the 2023–24 season.

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January 2, 2024: Game-Winning Shot Against Michigan State

On January 2, 2024, Caitlin Clark scored 40 points, including a game-winning three-pointer as time expired, leading Iowa to a 76–73 victory over Michigan State.

January 2024: State Farm Donation to Caitlin Clark Foundation

In January 2024, State Farm announced its intention to donate $22,000 to the Caitlin Clark Foundation in honor of Clark's golden birthday.

January 31, 2024: Breaking Big Ten All-Time Scoring Record

On January 31, 2024, Caitlin Clark scored 35 points and had 10 assists in a 110–74 win over Northwestern, surpassing Kelsey Mitchell of Ohio State to break the Big Ten all-time scoring record.

February 2024: Top-Selling College Athlete on Fanatics

In February 2024, Caitlin Clark became the top-selling college athlete on the online sports merchandise retailer Fanatics, surpassing Shedeur Sanders.

February 29, 2024: Declaring for the WNBA Draft

On February 29, 2024, Caitlin Clark announced her decision to enter the 2024 WNBA draft, foregoing her fifth year of eligibility. She was widely projected to be the first overall pick.

March 2024: Partnerships with Panini and Gainbridge

In March 2024, Caitlin Clark became the first female athlete with an exclusive partnership with Panini and signed a sponsorship with Gainbridge, joining Billie Jean King and Annika Sörenstam as brand ambassadors.

March 2024: Olympic Training Camp Invitation and Exclusion from Final Roster

In March 2024, Caitlin Clark received an invitation to the United States national team's final training camp for the 2024 Summer Olympics, being the only college player invited. However, she couldn't attend due to her participation in the 2024 NCAA tournament and was ultimately not selected for the final Olympic roster, sparking controversy.

March 2024: Gatorade Donations to Caitlin Clark Foundation and Women's Sports Foundation

In March 2024, with the release of Caitlin Clark's limited-edition capsule collection, Gatorade donated $25,000 each to the Caitlin Clark Foundation and the Women's Sports Foundation to help increase girls' access to basketball.

April 15, 2024: Selected as First Overall Pick in WNBA Draft

On April 15, 2024, Caitlin Clark was selected as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, marking a significant milestone in her career.

April 2024: Saturday Night Live Appearance

In April 2024, Caitlin Clark made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live. During a skit on Weekend Update, she critiqued Michael Che's past jokes about women's basketball and provided new jokes for him to read.

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April 2024: WNBA Draft and Nike Deal Reports

In April 2024, after being drafted into the WNBA, reports surfaced about a pending eight-year, $28 million contract between Caitlin Clark and Nike, including a signature shoe deal.

May 2024: Executive Producer of Full Court Press

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May 2024: Deal with Wilson Sporting Goods

In May 2024, Caitlin Clark signed a multi-year deal with Wilson Sporting Goods, becoming the first athlete to release signature Wilson basketball collections since Michael Jordan.

June 7, 2024: Tying Rookie Single-Game Record

On June 7, 2024, Caitlin Clark scored 30 points and tied Crystal Robinson's rookie single-game record with seven three-pointers. She also had eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals, leading the Indiana Fever to an 85–83 victory over the Washington Mystics.

July 11, 2024: Winning ESPY Awards

On July 11, 2024, at the ESPY Awards, Caitlin Clark won the Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award for the second time and became the first female athlete to win the Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Award.

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August 18, 2024: Setting a New WNBA Rookie Assist Record

On August 18, 2024, Caitlin Clark established a new WNBA rookie assist record, surpassing the previous record of 225 assists set by Ticha Penicheiro in 1998, during a 92–75 victory over the Seattle Storm.

November 2024: NWSL Ownership

In November 2024, Caitlin Clark joined the ownership group intending to bring an expansion National Women's Soccer League team to Cincinnati in 2026.

November 2024: Group 1001 Grant to Caitlin Clark Foundation

In November 2024, during The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Group 1001 President and CEO Dan Towriss presented Caitlin Clark with a grant of $22,000 to the Caitlin Clark Foundation.

2024: Continued Support for Coralville Community Food Pantry

As of 2024, Caitlin Clark has helped raise over $100,000 for the Coralville Community Food Pantry, and the nonprofit continues to frequently receive $22 donations in her honor.

2024: WNBA Rookie of the Year

In 2024, Caitlin Clark was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft. During her first season, she earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, was named to the All-WNBA First Team, and participated in the WNBA All-Star Game.

2024: Recognition as a Generational Talent

In 2024, Caitlin Clark was widely recognized as a generational talent and one of the greatest women's college basketball players of all time. Her unprecedented shooting range and proficiency led to her being labeled a transformative player, with comparisons to Stephen Curry's impact on the men's game.

2024: Record-Breaking Viewership and Attendance

In 2024, Caitlin Clark's final three games at the NCAA tournament broke women's college basketball viewership records, culminating in 18.9 million viewers for the national championship game, making it the most-viewed basketball game since 2019. Additionally, the Fever set a franchise single-season attendance record, and their regular season finale set the league attendance record (20,711).

January 2025: Partnership with Scholastic and Book Donation

In January 2025, on Caitlin Clark's 23rd birthday, the Caitlin Clark Foundation partnered with Scholastic and their national literacy program, United States of Readers, and announced its plan to donate 22,000 books to under-resourced elementary and middle schools in both Iowa and Indiana through the United States of Readers program.