“I hope I can just be somebody that gives young people hope and joy. I hope I am somebody they can look up to, to want to achieve whatever they want to achieve.”
Those words were among the many reflections and aspirations shared Tuesday evening by Caitlin Clark, star of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Indiana Fever and former college basketball phenom, as the keynote speaker during the Excellence in Leadership Series at University of the Cumberlands.
Clark rose to national prominence in 2023 during her junior year at the University of Iowa, where she was a standout for the Hawkeyes women’s basketball team, helping lead her team to two straight NCAA Championship games. While at Iowa, Clark broke a number of records, including one set by hall-of-fame player Pete Maravich for most points scored by a Division I basketball player. She also set a number of other records, becoming the first player to surpass 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists.
At the end of her collegiate career, Clark was selected by the Indiana Fever as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. As a part of the Fever, she continued to break records.
Clark’s rookie season was highlighted by a WNBA All-Star nod, as well as records for single-game and single-season assists. She also broke the rookie scoring record and became the first-ever rookie to put up a triple-double in a game.
During Tuesday night’s event, Clark fielded questions from UC President Dr. Larry Cockrum and a number of UC students. She was asked about everything from how she has handled her rise to national fame to what led her to create The Caitlin Clark Foundation, which aims to uplift and improve the lives of youth and their communities through education, nutrition, and sports.
A key to Clark’s success, aside from working hard, is staying grounded. That’s something she said Coach Lisa Bluder, her former Iowa Hawkeyes women’s head basketball coach, instilled in her and her teammates.
“When I look back at how fast everything in my life has changed, it reminds me of something Coach Bluder said, like, literally every single day at practice, which is, ‘Be where your feet are,’” said Clark. “Whether it’s a good day, whether it’s a bad day: Give it your all. Enjoy the people you’re around, because it does go incredibly fast.”
While the conversation throughout the evening ebbed and flowed, there was a common thread that was noticeable throughout Clark’s responses: Her desire to be the best she can be.
That was most apparent when Clark was asked about how she went about overcoming challenges and adversity in her life and career. Clark recalled a time during her high school basketball career when she was snubbed for a spot on the USA U17 team. She had participated the previous year as part of the USA U16 team, so being left off the roster the following year she said was a “deflating” and “almost embarrassing” moment. But Clark said that she decided to use that as a learning opportunity.
“I think that’s the best way to overcome any challenge: Embrace it,” said Clark.
UC’s annual lecture series is made possible by an endowment from local business owners Dr. Terry and Mrs. Marion Forcht, who founded The Forcht Group of Kentucky Center for Excellence in Leadership in 2006.
