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 currently playing for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA. She achieved phenomenal success at the University of Iowa, becoming the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer. Clark also earned two national player of the year awards. Her exceptional talent and popularity are credited with significantly boosting the visibility and interest in women's basketball, a phenomenon often called the "Caitlin Clark effect."
1998: Nike's Super Bowl Ad
On February 9, 2025, Caitlin Clark appeared in a 90-second Nike commercial in the Super Bowl. It was Nike's first Super Bowl ad since 1998.
January 22, 2002: Caitlin Clark's Birth
On January 22, 2002, Caitlin Elizabeth Clark was born. She is now a professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA and is considered one of the greatest collegiate players of all time.
November 12, 2019: Commitment to Iowa
On November 12, 2019, Caitlin Clark announced her commitment to play college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes, choosing them over offers from Iowa State and Notre Dame.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic allowed all players to have an extra year of eligibility.
March 2022: "Team Up Against Hunger" Partnership
In March 2022, Caitlin Clark partnered with the Coralville Community Food Pantry for a month-long donation push, raising over $23,000.
October 2023: Caitlin Clark Foundation Formation
In October 2023, Caitlin Clark formed the Caitlin Clark Foundation, a nonprofit organization to uplift youth and their communities through education, nutrition, and sport.
2023: John Deere Classic Pro-Am
In 2023, Caitlin Clark played in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am alongside professional golfers, Zach Johnson and Ludvig Åberg.
2023: Signed with Excel Sports Management
In 2023, Caitlin Clark signed with Excel Sports Management and became a spokesperson for State Farm, appearing in national commercials.
2023: Academic All-American of the Year
In 2023, Clark was honored as the Division I Women's Basketball Academic All-American of the Year by the CSC before winning the same award for all Division I sports.
2023: Full Court Press Docuseries
In 2023, the ESPN+ docuseries Full Court Press started filming, and followed three women's college basketball players.
2023: Life-size butter sculpture
In 2023, the Iowa State Fair displayed a life-size butter sculpture of Clark.
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 Caitlin Clark's golden birthday.
February 2024: Top-Selling College Athlete on Fanatics
In February 2024, Caitlin Clark became the top-selling college athlete on Fanatics, surpassing Shedeur Sanders.
February 22, 2024: "Caitlin Clark Day" 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.
March 2024: Partnership with Panini and Sponsorship with Gainbridge
In March 2024, Caitlin Clark became the first female athlete with an exclusive partnership with Panini and signed a sponsorship with Gainbridge.
March 2024: Gatorade Donations to Caitlin Clark Foundation
In March 2024, Gatorade made $25,000 donations to both the Caitlin Clark Foundation and the Women's Sports Foundation to help increase girls' access to the sport of basketball.
April 2024: Saturday Night Live Cameo
In April 2024, Caitlin Clark made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live, criticizing Michael Che's past jokes about women's basketball.
May 2024: Graduation from the University of Iowa
In May 2024, Caitlin Clark graduated from the University of Iowa with a major in marketing.
May 2024: Executive Producer of ESPN+ Docuseries
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.
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 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 in 2026.
November 2024: Grant to the Caitlin Clark Foundation
In November 2024, Group 1001 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 Coralville Community Food Pantry.
2024: The ANNIKA and RSM Classic
In 2024, Caitlin Clark played in The ANNIKA with Nelly Korda and Annika Sörenstam, and in the RSM Classic with Zach Johnson.
January 2025: Partnership with Scholastic and Book Donation Plan
In January 2025 on Clark's 23rd birthday, the Caitlin Clark Foundation teamed up with Scholastic and announced its plan to donate 22,000 books to under-resourced schools.
February 9, 2025: Nike Super Bowl Commercial
On February 9, 2025, Caitlin Clark appeared in a 90-second Nike commercial in the Super Bowl.
