History of Caitlin Clark in Timeline

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

1996: Abby Roe's record

In 1996, Abby Roe scored the highest single-game point total in Iowa five-on-five girls' basketball history, surpassing Caitlin Clark's score on February 4, 2019.

1999: Fastest Division I Women's player to reach 2,000 career points

On December 21, Caitlin Clark tied Elena Delle Donne of Delaware as the fastest Division I women's player to reach 2,000 career points since the 1999-2000 season.

2000: Fastest Division I Women's player to reach 2,000 career points

On December 21, Caitlin Clark tied Elena Delle Donne of Delaware as the fastest Division I women's player to reach 2,000 career points since the 1999-2000 season.

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.

Others born on this day/year

2006: Diana Taurasi set mark for points produced in a game

In 2006, Diana Taurasi set the mark for points produced in a game. This record was broken by Caitlin Clark on July 17, 2024.

2015: Samantha Logic's triple-double

In 2015, Samantha Logic had a triple-double for Iowa. On December 22, 2020 Caitlin Clark registered the first triple-double by an Iowa player since Samantha Logic did so in 2015.

2017: FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship Gold Medal

In 2017, Caitlin Clark represented the United States at the FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She helped her team win the gold medal.

February 4, 2019: 60-Point Game

On February 4, 2019, during her junior season, Caitlin Clark scored 60 points in a game against Mason City High School. She also set the 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, choosing them over offers from Iowa State and Notre Dame.

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

In 2019, Caitlin Clark played at the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand. She won another gold medal.

2019: Most viewed basketball game since 2019

In 2019, it was the most-viewed basketball game at any level since 2019, and the first women's NCAA tournament final to draw more viewers than the men's final.

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 win over Northern Iowa.

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.

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 made her sophomore season debut, 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 competed at the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary. She led the United States to the gold medal and 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 win 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 recorded her fourth career triple-double, with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a victory over Nebraska.

March 5, 2022: 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 a win over Nebraska, leading Iowa to the title.

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.

November 18, 2022: Ankle Injury Against Kansas State

On November 18, 2022, Caitlin Clark suffered an ankle injury with 3.8 seconds left in a loss to Kansas State. Despite the injury, she recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.

January 23, 2023: Win over Ohio State

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

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."

December 6, 2023: Reaching 3,000 Career Points

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

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: 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: 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: National Player of the Year Awards

In 2023, Caitlin Clark won all major national player of the year awards including AP Player of the Year, the Honda Sports Award, the John R. Wooden Award, Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA National Player of the Year and the Wade Trophy. She was also named the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year.

2023: NCAA Tournament and National Player of the Year Awards

In 2023, Caitlin Clark won all major national player of the year awards. She also reached the NCAA championship game, but lost the title.

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.

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

On January 2, 2024, Caitlin Clark scored 40 points and made a game-winning three-pointer as time expired in a 76–73 win over Michigan State.

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, breaking the Big Ten all-time scoring record held by Kelsey Mitchell of Ohio State.

February 2024: Clark becomes 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 Colorado Buffaloes quarterback, Shedeur Sanders.

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.

March 2024: Summer Olympics Training Camp Invitation

In March 2024, Caitlin Clark was invited to the final training camp for the 2024 Summer Olympics, but could not attend due to the NCAA tournament. Ultimately she was not named to the final roster.

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.

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.

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

June 2024: ESPY Awards nomination

In June 2024, Clark was nominated for three ESPY Awards.

July 11, 2024: ESPY Awards

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

August 18, 2024: WNBA Rookie Assist Record

On August 18, 2024, Caitlin Clark set a new WNBA rookie assist record, surpassing the previous record of 225 assists held by Ticha Penicheiro since 1998, during a game against the Seattle Storm which her team won 92-75.

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.

December 2024: Athlete of the Year

In December 2024, Caitlin Clark was named Athlete of the Year by Time magazine and Female Athlete of the Year by the AP.

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: Transformative player in women's basketball

In 2024, Caitlin Clark is described as a transformative player in women's basketball due to her unprecedented shooting range. She has redefined what a good shot is in basketball.

2024: Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament Successes

In 2024, Caitlin Clark led Iowa to its third straight Big Ten tournament title, earning the MOP award. During the NCAA tournament, she achieved several milestones, including surpassing Stephen Curry and Darius McGhee for the most three-pointers in a single season, and also surpassed Kelsey Plum for the most points in a single season. Iowa reached the national championship game for a second consecutive season but lost to South Carolina.

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.

2024: WNBA Draft and Rookie Season

In 2024, Caitlin Clark was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft. During her rookie season, she achieved the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, made the All-WNBA First Team, and participated in the WNBA All-Star Game. She also set league records in assists and rookie scoring.

2024: Record-Breaking Viewership

In 2024, during the NCAA tournament, Caitlin Clark's final three games broke viewership records, with the national championship game drawing 18.9 million viewers, surpassing the men's final in viewership.

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 2, 2025: Jersey Retirement Ceremony

On February 2, 2025, Caitlin Clark's No. 22 jersey was retired by the University of Iowa, following the Hawkeyes' win over No. 4 USC.

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.

May 17, 2025: Third Career Triple-Double

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

May 26, 2025: Quadriceps Strain

On May 26, 2025, the Fever announced that Clark had suffered a left quadriceps strain and would be out for a minimum of two weeks. The injury occurred during the Fever's May 24 game against the New York Liberty.