Caitlyn Clark’s basketball skills were so advanced that even in grade school, her parents signed her up to play on boys’ teams. By middle school, she was already well known in Iowa basketball circles. Her grandfather was a coach, and her dad, a former college player, became her first coach, encouraging her passion for the game.
Caitlyn began playing basketball at age five but had to compete in boys’ leagues because there wasn’t a girls’ league for her age. She continued playing with boys until sixth grade and never questioned it; it was just what she did. Besides basketball, she played several other sports but eventually focused solely on basketball.
By high school, at age 13, she began playing in girls’ leagues, often with older players. A turning point came when her dad took her to a WNBA game, inspiring her to add long-range shots to her game. She even convinced her dad to expand their driveway for a full three-point line. Caitlyn’s fierce competitiveness and dedication shaped her into a remarkable shooter; she shot over 50% from beyond the arc in multiple games, breaking records along the way.
In June, she broke Ryan Howard’s rookie record for three-pointers in fewer games, and by the end of her rookie season, she had surpassed even Diana Taurasi’s mark. As a high school player, Caitlyn’s talent really started to shine. Her AAU team, All Iowa Attack, won the Nike National Championship in 2018, and she won gold medals with USA Basketball. Even when she faced setbacks, like not making the U17 USA team, Caitlyn used them as motivation to improve.
She went on to average 32.6 points per game as a junior, and in one unforgettable game, she hit 13 three-pointers and scored 60 points, just one shy of the state record. By that point, she was a five-star prospect, with attention from nearly every major basketball program. Her drive started in childhood, competing fiercely with her brothers in basement games and evolving into one of the top female athletes in the U.S.
