Early Life and Education of Caitlin Clark: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Caitlin Clark. From birth to education, explore key events.

Caitlin Clark is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever, widely considered one of the greatest college players of all time. While at the University of Iowa, she was twice named national female college basketball player of the year and became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer. Clark's impact has extended beyond the court, significantly boosting the popularity of women's basketball, a phenomenon known as the 'Caitlin Clark effect'.

Sections (4)

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

January 22, 2002: Caitlin Clark's Birth

On January 22, 2002, Caitlin Elizabeth Clark was born. She would become an American professional basketball player renowned for her collegiate achievements and contributions to popularizing women's basketball.

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November 12, 2019: Commitment to Iowa

On November 12, 2019, Caitlin Clark announced her commitment to play college basketball for Iowa, choosing them over offers from Iowa State and Notre Dame.

2020: Ranked #1 Player

By her sophomore season at Dowling Catholic in 2020, Caitlin Clark was ranked the number one player in the 2020 high school class by ESPN.

2020: Fifth Season of Eligibility Granted

In 2020, Caitlin Clark and all other players were granted a fifth season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 2022: Team Up Against Hunger

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.

October 15, 2023: Crossover at Kinnick

On October 15, 2023, Caitlin Clark played in Crossover at Kinnick, a preseason exhibition game against DePaul at Kinnick Stadium, recording a triple-double with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 94–72 victory. The game set a women's basketball record with an attendance of 55,646.

October 2023: Caitlin Clark Foundation Formation

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: Partnership with State Farm

In 2023, Caitlin Clark became the first college athlete to be a spokesperson for State Farm, appearing in national television commercials for the company.

2023: John Deere Classic Pro-Am Participation

In 2023, Caitlin Clark played in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am alongside professional golfers, Zach Johnson and Ludvig Åberg.

2023: Life-size butter sculpture displayed at Iowa State Fair

In 2023, a life-size butter sculpture of Caitlin Clark was displayed at the Iowa State Fair.

February 22, 2024: "Caitlin Clark Day" declared in Iowa

On February 22, 2024, the Iowa House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution declaring February 22 as "Caitlin Clark Day" in the state, referencing her jersey number.

February 29, 2024: Declaring for the WNBA Draft

On February 29, 2024, Caitlin 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 and signed a sponsorship with Gainbridge.

April 2024: Saturday Night Live Appearance

In April 2024, Caitlin Clark made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live, criticizing Michael Che's past jokes about women's basketball and writing new jokes for him to read aloud.

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April 2024: WNBA Draft and Sponsorship Deals

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

May 2024: Graduation from University of Iowa

In May 2024, Caitlin Clark majored in marketing at the University of Iowa, and graduated.

May 2024: Executive Producer of 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 during the 2023–24 season.

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May 2024: Partnership 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 signature Wilson basketball collections since Michael Jordan.

November 2024: Joins 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: Funds raised 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: Included in Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women list

In 2024, Caitlin Clark was included in the World's 100 Most Powerful Women list by Forbes, becoming the first basketball player and the second athlete in the past 20 years to appear on the list. In the same year, she was also included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and the Sports Illustrated Power List.

January 2025: Partnership with Scholastic

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, and donated 22,000 books to under-resourced elementary and middle schools in both Iowa and Indiana.

February 9, 2025: 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: Community Courts Initiative

In March 2025, the Caitlin Clark Foundation began a partnership with Musco and introduced the foundation's new "Community Courts Initiative", planning to install Musco Mini-Pitch Systems in four middle schools within the Des Moines Public Schools district.

April 2025: Cool Blue Gatorade Bottle Release

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

May 2025: 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, estimated to provide about 3 million meals to food insecure communities in the Midwest.