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 in the WNBA, widely considered one of the greatest female collegiate players. While at the University of Iowa, she twice earned national female college basketball player of the year honors and became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer. Her impact has significantly boosted the popularity of women's basketball, leading to what's been called the 'Caitlin Clark effect'.

Sections (4)

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

1993: Iowa Reached First Final Four Since 1993

In 1993, Iowa reached its first Final Four since 1993, marking a significant milestone for the program.

2018: Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Championship

In the summer of 2018, Caitlin Clark led the All Iowa Attack to win the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League championship, scoring 23 points in a 64–61 victory over the Cal Storm in the final.

February 4, 2019: 60 Points Against Mason City High School

On February 4, 2019, during her junior season, Caitlin Clark scored 60 points in a 90–78 win against Mason City High School. This was the second-highest single-game point total in Iowa five-on-five girls' basketball history.

November 12, 2019: Commitment to Iowa

On November 12, 2019, Caitlin Clark announced that she would commit to play college basketball for Iowa, drawn to the team's style and coach Lisa Bluder's development of point guards.

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 96–81 win 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 92–79 win against Minnesota.

November 9, 2021: Sophomore Season Debut

On November 9, 2021, Caitlin Clark made her sophomore season debut, recording 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a 93–50 win over New Hampshire.

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

In 2021, Caitlin Clark won a gold medal with the United States at the FIBA Under-19 Women's World Cup, where she was named Most Valuable Player.

January 2, 2022: 44 Points Against Evansville

On January 2, 2022, Caitlin Clark posted 44 points and eight assists in a 93–56 win over Evansville. She broke the Carver–Hawkeye Arena women's single-game scoring record and became the fastest Big Ten player to reach 1,000 career points.

January 16, 2022: Fourth Career Triple-Double

On January 16, 2022, Caitlin Clark recorded her fourth career triple-double, with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 93–83 victory over Nebraska.

March 5, 2022: 41 Points in Big Ten Tournament Semifinals

On March 5, 2022, in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament, Caitlin Clark recorded 41 points and nine rebounds in an 83–66 win over Nebraska.

March 2022: "Team Up Against Hunger" donation push

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.

January 23, 2023: 28 Points Against Ohio State

On January 23, 2023, Caitlin Clark recorded 28 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in an 83–72 win over AP No. 2 Ohio State.

October 2023: Formed 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."

2023: ESPN+ docuseries Full Court Press

In 2023 Caitlin Clark was filmed for the ESPN+ docuseries Full Court Press, which followed three women's college basketball players, including Clark herself, during the 2023–24 season.

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2023: Signed with Excel Sports Management and NIL Deals

In 2023, Caitlin Clark signed with Excel Sports Management. It was estimated that she would be one of the highest-earning college athletes from name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals.

February 29, 2024: Clark Declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft

On February 29, 2024, Clark announced her decision to declare for the 2024 WNBA draft, forgoing her fifth year of eligibility.

March 2024: Partnership with Panini and Gainbridge

In March 2024, Caitlin Clark became the first female athlete to have an exclusive partnership with Panini, signing a multi-year contract with the trading card company. In the same month, she signed a multiyear sponsorship with Gainbridge.

March 2024: Invitation to National Team Training Camp

In March 2024, Caitlin Clark was one of 14 players, and the only college player, to receive an invitation from the United States national team to the final training camp for the 2024 Summer Olympics, but she was unable to attend due to her participation in the 2024 NCAA tournament that same week.

April 15, 2024: WNBA Draft First Overall Pick

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

April 2024: Cameo on Saturday Night Live

In April 2024, Caitlin Clark made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live. She criticized co-anchor Michael Che's past jokes about women's basketball and wrote new jokes for him to read aloud.

April 2024: Report of Nike contract and potential signature shoe

In April 2024, it was reported that Caitlin Clark and Nike were negotiating an eight-year, $28 million contract, which would include a signature shoe deal.

May 2024: Executive Producer on Full Court Press

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

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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 and became the first athlete to release a signature Wilson basketball collection since Michael Jordan; and the first female athlete to ever do so.

June 7, 2024: 30 Points and Seven Three-Pointers

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 her team to an 85–83 win over the Washington Mystics.

August 18, 2024: New WNBA Rookie Assist Record

On August 18, 2024, Caitlin Clark set a new WNBA rookie assist record, surpassing the 225 assist record previously held by Ticha Penicheiro since 1998, during a 92–75 victory over the Seattle Storm.

November 2024: Joined NWSL ownership group

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

2024: Raised over $100,000 for Coralville Community Food Pantry

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

2024: Selected First Overall in WNBA Draft

In 2024, Caitlin Clark was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft. In her first season, she won the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, made the All-WNBA First Team and WNBA All-Star Game, set league single-season and single-game records in assists, broke the rookie scoring record, and became the first rookie to achieve a triple-double.

2024: Changing the dimensionality of the game

In 2024, Jason Gay wrote that Caitlin Clark is changing the dimensionality of women's basketball because of the distance she can shoot from and how well she can pass.

January 2025: Teamed up with Scholastic and United States of Readers

In January 2025 on Clark's 23rd birthday, the Caitlin Clark Foundation teamed up with Scholastic and their national literacy program, United States of Readers. Additionally, the foundation 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.

February 9, 2025: Appeared in Nike Super Bowl commercial

On February 9, 2025, Caitlin Clark appeared in a 90-second Nike commercial in the 2025 Super Bowl featuring some of the world's top female athletes.

March 2025: Introduced the "Community Courts Initiative"

In March 2025, the Caitlin Clark Foundation began a partnership with Musco and introduced the foundation's new "Community Courts Initiative". The foundation announced plans for new Musco Mini-Pitch Systems to be installed in four middle schools within the Des Moines Public Schools district. Also in March 2025, the Caitlin Clark Foundation teamed up with Hy-Vee to raise funds to support childhood nutrition for local food banks across the Midwest via a month-long donation drive.

April 2025: Hy-Vee released Cool Blue Gatorade bottle

In April 2025, Hy-Vee released a limited-edition Cool Blue Gatorade bottle, featuring Clark, sold exclusively at Hy-Vee.

May 2025: Presented donation to Feeding America

In May 2025, the Caitlin Clark Foundation presented a $300,802 donation to Feeding America at the Food Bank of Iowa from their round-up campaign. The donation is estimated to provide about 3 million meals to food insecure communities in the Midwest via eighteen Feeding America partner food banks.

May 17, 2025: Triple-Double Performance

On May 17, 2025, Caitlin Clark opened her second year in the WNBA with a dominant performance, recording her third career triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, contributing to the Fever's 93–58 win over the Chicago Sky.

June 2025: Debuted Nike Kobe 6 Protro "The Bellas"

In June 2025, Caitlin Clark debuted another PE with Nike, a Kobe 6 Protro called "The Bellas", in honor of Clark's family dog.

August 2025: Partnership with Stanley

In August 2025, Caitlin Clark became the first female athlete to form a multi-year partnership with Stanley.

August 25, 2025: Introduced as Nike Signature Athlete

On August 25, 2025, Nike introduced Caitlin Clark as their newest signature athlete and revealed her signature logo. Her logo apparel collection is to drop in fall 2025 and her signature shoe and apparel collection in 2026.

December 2025: First Senior National Training Camp

In December 2025, Caitlin Clark participated in her first senior national training camp, marking an important step in her international career.

February 2026: Named to FIBA World Cup Qualification Tournament Roster

In February 2026, Caitlin Clark was named to the roster to represent USA in the FIBA World Cup qualification tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, further solidifying her role on the national team.