Whether she’s getting left off of Team USA, being targeted by cheap shots, or being discussed incessantly by sports media gurus, Caitlin Clark has handled every moment with an underappreciated amount of class.
Ever since Angel Reese infamously celebrated in Clark’s face after Louisiana State University defeated the University of Iowa in the 2023 NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament, Clark has been the center of constant conversation. She didn’t ask for any of it, yet she finds herself in the headlines as much as any athlete I can remember in recent memory.
Despite the noise, however, Clark has remained steadfast in her commitment to her craft. She’s in plenty of commercials, sure, but an underwhelming social media presence and lack of public appearances represent her willingness to stay out of the spotlight.
That aversion to attention is rare among star athletes these days. Podcast appearances and social media posts are commonplace — many professional athletes care more about the outfit they wear in the pregame tunnel than they do about winning and losing.
Clark’s desire to fly under the radar is classy in and of itself. There’s so much bait she could take, including discussions of race, gender, and sexuality are often central to these controversies, but yet she never does. There have been moments where it almost felt necessary for her to defend herself — the cheap shot she took from Chennedy Carter put her physical safety in danger.
Yet when asked about the controversy a few days later, Clark admirably took the high road.
In reference to Carter, Clark was quoted as saying, “She’s having a tremendous season. She’s played great basketball in my eyes, probably in first place for sixth player of the year. She’s been great off the bench for them. I think she had, what, 25 here last night and really helped them win the game.”
Despite the objectively dirty nature of Carter’s cheap shot, Clark gave her the benefit of the doubt and chalked it up to competitiveness.
“Sometimes your emotions get the best of you,” she said. “Happened to me multiple times throughout the course of my career. People are competitive. It is what it is.”
Clark also talked at length about how she avoids social media. Compare this attitude with that of Reese — I’ve seen her dance on TikTok more than I’ve watched her play basketball — and it’s relatively clear why Clark has handled everything with such grace.
It’s also a shame because so many of these perpetual debates have little to do with basketball.
Rarely discussed is Clark’s play on the court. The long-range three-point shooting, fast-paced, Stephen Curry-esque playstyle, and immense toughness are replaced with contentious commentary that is at most tangential to the actual sport being played.
Clark has said this herself, too. In that same interview from Friday morning, Clark commented, “Sometimes it stinks how much the conversation is outside of basketball and not the product on the floor and the amazing players that are on the floor and how good they are for their teams and how great this season has been for women’s basketball.”
Despite the lack of attention being paid to Clark the basketball player, she’s been having an impressive rookie season.
With sky-high expectations and an unfair spotlight, Clark is fourth in the league in assists per game and tied for third in three-pointers made. She scored more than 150 points and had more than 50 assists and 50 rebounds throughout her first 10 games, an accomplishment that’s only been achieved previously by Sabrina Ionescu.
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Clark’s story has had its fair share of ups and downs, but what’s remained constant is her first-class character and remarkable athletic accomplishments.
We should all look forward to watching the rest of her career as she inevitably improves and starts making headlines once more for being the incredible athlete that she is.