History of Caitlin Clark in Timeline
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."
1993: First Final Four Since 1993
In 1993, Iowa reached the Final Four for the first time since 1993. Clark led the team to their first Final Four since that year.
1996: Abby Roe's Record
In 1996, Abby Roe set the record for the highest single-game point total in Iowa five-on-five girls' basketball history. This record was later approached, but not broken, by Caitlin Clark.
1998: Previous WNBA Rookie Assist Record
In 1998, Ticha Penicheiro set the WNBA rookie assist record which was later broken by Caitlin Clark.
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.
1999: Start of Season
The record set by Caitlin Clark, tying Elena Delle Donne, was measured since the 1999-2000 season.
2000: Start of Season
The record set by Caitlin Clark, tying Elena Delle Donne, was measured since the 1999-2000 season.
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.
2006: Diana Taurasi's Point Production Record
In 2006, Diana Taurasi set the record for points produced in a game.
2008: Last Rookie to Make All-WNBA First Team
In 2008, Candace Parker was the last rookie to make the All-WNBA First Team until Caitlin Clark.
2015: Last Triple-Double Before Clark
In 2015, Samantha Logic recorded the last triple-double by an Iowa player before Caitlin Clark.
2016: Indiana Fever Last Playoff Appearance
In 2016, was the last time the Indiana Fever made the playoffs until Caitlin Clark led them to the playoffs.
2017: Won Gold Medal at FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship
In 2017, Caitlin Clark represented the United States at the FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and won a gold medal.
February 4, 2019: 60-Point Game against Mason City High School
On February 4, 2019, Caitlin Clark scored 60 points in a game against Mason City High School during her junior season. This was the second-highest single-game point total in Iowa girls' basketball history and she set a state 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 the Iowa Hawkeyes, choosing them over offers from Iowa State and Notre Dame.
2019: Won Gold Medal at FIBA Under-19 World Cup
In 2019, Caitlin Clark played at the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, and won another gold medal.
2019: Most viewed basketball game since 2019
In 2024, the NCAA tournament was the most-viewed basketball game since 2019.
November 25, 2020: Collegiate Debut
On November 25, 2020, Caitlin Clark made her collegiate debut for Iowa, recording 27 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in a 96–81 win over Northern Iowa.
2020: Ranked Number One 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: COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic allowed all players to have an extra year of eligibility.
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 debuted in her sophomore season, recording 26 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in a 93–50 win over New Hampshire.
2021: Won Gold Medal and MVP at FIBA Under-19 World Cup
In 2021, Caitlin Clark competed at the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, led the United States to a gold medal, and was named Most Valuable Player.
2021: FIBA Under-19 Women's World Cup MVP
In 2021, Caitlin Clark won a gold medal 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 scored 44 points in a 93–56 win over Evansville. She broke the Carver–Hawkeye Arena women's single-game scoring record and was the fastest Big Ten player to reach 1,000 career points, surpassing Kelsey Mitchell.
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: Big Ten Tournament Semifinals
On March 5, 2022, Caitlin Clark scored 41 points and had nine rebounds in an 83-66 win over Nebraska during the Big Ten tournament semifinals.
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.
November 18, 2022: Ankle Injury Against Kansas State
On November 18, 2022, Caitlin Clark suffered an ankle injury with 3.8 seconds left in an 84–83 loss to Kansas State, where she recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
2022: Previous WNBA Rookie 3-Pointers Record
In 2022, Rhyne Howard set the WNBA rookie record for three-pointers made which was later broken by Caitlin Clark.
January 23, 2023: Win Over AP No. 2 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, who were previously unbeaten.
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, achieving a triple-double with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 94–72 win. The game set a women's basketball attendance record with 55,646 attendees.
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.
December 6, 2023: Reached 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 as the second-fastest player. She scored 35 points, had nine rebounds, and five assists in a 67–58 victory over Iowa State.
2023: Rise in Viewership
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: NCAA Championship Game Rematch
In 2023, Caitlin Clark played against LSU in a rematch of the national championship game where she had 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in a 94-87 victory, leading the Hawkeyes to their second straight Final Four and a school-record 33 wins.
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.
January 31, 2024: Broke 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 to become the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer.
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.
February 29, 2024: Declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft
On February 29, 2024, Caitlin Clark announced that she would be declaring for the 2024 WNBA draft, foregoing her fifth year of eligibility.
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: Invited to US National Team Training Camp
In March 2024, Caitlin Clark was invited to the United States national team training camp for the 2024 Summer Olympics but could not attend due to her participation in the 2024 NCAA tournament. Ultimately, she was not selected for the final roster.
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 15, 2024: Selected First Overall in WNBA Draft
On April 15, 2024, Caitlin Clark was selected as the first overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever.
April 2024: Drafted into WNBA
After being drafted into the WNBA in April 2024, reports surfaced of a pending eight-year, $28 million contract between Caitlin Clark and Nike, including a signature shoe deal.
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.
June 7, 2024: Tied 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, Caitlin Clark was nominated for three ESPY Awards, recognizing her achievements in college basketball.
July 11, 2024: Won Best Female College Athlete and Best Record-Breaking Performance ESPY Awards
On July 11, 2024, 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, but lost out on the Best Female Athlete ESPY Award to A'ja Wilson.
August 18, 2024: Set New WNBA Rookie Assist Record
On August 18, 2024, Caitlin Clark set a new WNBA rookie assist record, surpassing the record previously held since 1998, in a 92–75 win over the Seattle Storm.
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.
December 2024: Named 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: Continued Support for Coralville Community Food Pantry
As of 2024, Caitlin Clark has helped raise over $100,000 for Coralville Community Food Pantry.
2024: Big Ten Tournament Title and NCAA Tournament Run
In 2024, Caitlin Clark led Iowa to its third straight Big Ten tournament title and was named MOP. During the NCAA tournament, she surpassed Stephen Curry and Darius McGhee for the most three-pointers in a single season and Kelsey Plum for the most points in a single season. She also led Iowa to the national championship game for a second consecutive season.
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.
2024: Inclusion in Forbes Lists
In 2024, Caitlin Clark was included in the World's 100 Most Powerful Women list by Forbes, as well as the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and the Sports Illustrated Power List.
2024: Recognition as a Transformative Player
In 2024, Caitlin Clark was recognized as a transformative player in women's basketball, drawing comparisons to Stephen Curry for her unprecedented shooting range and impact on the game.
2024: WNBA Draft and Rookie Year
In 2024, Caitlin Clark was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft. In her first season, she achieved multiple accolades including WNBA Rookie of the Year, All-WNBA First Team selection, and participation in the WNBA All-Star Game. She set league records in assists, broke the rookie scoring record, and achieved a triple-double, marking a significant start to her professional career.
2024: Historic Viewership at NCAA tournament
In 2024, Caitlin Clark's final three games at the NCAA tournament broke viewership records, and the national championship game reached 18.9 million viewers.
2024: 2024 Season Stats
The stats are current through the end of the 2024 season.
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 2, 2025: Jersey Retired by University of Iowa
On February 2, 2025, following the Hawkeyes win over No. 4 USC, Caitlin Clark's No. 22 jersey was retired by the University of Iowa.
February 9, 2025: Nike Super Bowl Commercial
On February 9, 2025, Caitlin Clark appeared in a 90-second Nike commercial in the Super Bowl.
