Amanda Knapp
Caitlin Elizabeth Clark, born on January 22, 2002, is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Clark, who is regarded as one of the greatest female collegiate players, wore the number 22 jersey for the Iowa Hawkeyes and is known for her remarkable impact on the program and women's basketball as a whole. She is a homegrown Iowa talent, having grown up in Des Moines and played basketball from a young age. Clark's foundation has also made significant contributions off the court, including initiatives to address childhood nutrition and promote literacy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Caitlin Elizabeth Clark |
| Date of Birth | 22 January 2002 |
| Place of Birth | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Parents | Brent Clark and Anne Clark (née Nizzi) |
| School | Dowling Catholic High School, West Des Moines, Iowa |
| College | University of Iowa |
| Jersey Number | 22 |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Current Team | Indiana Fever, WNBA |
| Previous Team | Iowa Hawkeyes |
| Position | Point Guard |
| Foundation | Caitlin Clark Foundation |
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What You'll Learn
Caitlin Clark's career
Caitlin Clark, born on January 22, 2002, in Des Moines, Iowa, is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Clark is regarded as one of the greatest female collegiate players, having been named national female college basketball player of the year twice while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes. She is the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer. Clark has been instrumental in popularizing women's basketball, a phenomenon known as the "Caitlin Clark effect".
Clark began playing basketball at the age of five, competing in boys' recreational leagues as there were no girls' leagues for her age group. She also played softball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and golf as a child before focusing on basketball. At age 13, she started playing in girls' leagues, several years ahead of her age group. In sixth grade, she joined All Iowa Attack, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball program based in Ames, Iowa, and played for them until she graduated from high school.
Clark attended Dowling Catholic High School in her hometown of West Des Moines, Iowa. She was named a McDonald's All-American and rated the fourth-best player in her class by ESPN. In November 2019, she committed to playing college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes over offers from Iowa State and Notre Dame. She was attracted to Iowa's up-tempo offensive style and head coach Lisa Bluder's development of point guards. Clark made her collegiate debut on November 25, 2020, recording 27 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in a 96–81 win over Northern Iowa. In her freshman season, she led the NCAA Division I in scoring and earned All-American honors.
As a sophomore, Clark was a unanimous first-team All-American and became the first female player to lead Division I in points and assists in a single season. In her junior season, she repeated as the national player of the year and led Iowa to its first national championship game. She also led Division I in assists and set Big Ten single-season marks in points and assists. As a senior, she again became the national player of the year and helped Iowa reach the national title game once more. Clark set the Division I women's career and single-season record in points and three-pointers, breaking the conference record.
Clark has achieved success off the court as well. She has signed numerous name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, partnering with companies like Nike, Gatorade, Buick, and State Farm. She has made cameo appearances on television, including a skit on Saturday Night Live and a Nike commercial during the 2025 Super Bowl featuring top female athletes. Clark has also demonstrated a commitment to giving back, with her foundation partnering with various organizations to promote literacy, improve childhood nutrition, and provide recreation courts for sports in underserved communities.
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Caitlin Clark's jersey number
Caitlin Elizabeth Clark, born on January 22, 2002, is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Clark, who is regarded as one of the greatest female collegiate players, played for the Iowa Hawkeyes in college and wore the number 22 jersey.
Clark grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa, and started playing basketball at the age of five in boys' recreational leagues as there were no girls' leagues for her age group. By the sixth grade, she had joined the All Iowa Attack, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball program. Clark excelled in basketball and was named a McDonald's All-American in high school. She was also rated the fourth-best player in her class by ESPN.
When Clark committed to playing college basketball for Iowa, she was drawn to the team's up-tempo offensive style and head coach Lisa Bluder's development of point guards. As a freshman, she made her collegiate debut, recording 27 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in a win over Northern Iowa. In her second game, she posted her first double-double with 30 points and 13 assists in a victory over Drake. Clark was a standout player for Iowa, leading the NCAA Division I in scoring and assists during her freshman and sophomore seasons. She was a two-time national female college basketball player of the year and remains the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer.
Clark's jersey number, 22, holds significance for her. In March 2022, she partnered with the Coralville Community Food Pantry in Coralville, Iowa, for a donation drive and encouraged $22 donations from the public as a nod to her jersey number. Clark has left a lasting impact on the Iowa program and women's basketball, with her jersey number becoming synonymous with her remarkable achievements and contributions to the sport.
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Caitlin Clark's impact on women's basketball
Caitlin Clark, born on January 22, 2002, in Des Moines, Iowa, is regarded as one of the greatest female collegiate players. Clark has had a profound impact on women's basketball, both during her collegiate career and in the WNBA.
Clark's impact on the sport can be likened to the "Caitlin Clark effect", a term used to describe her ability to draw unprecedented public interest and increase the popularity of women's basketball. During her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark set attendance and television viewership records, with her games averaging 9.9 million viewers and breaking records for women's college basketball viewership. This impact extended beyond just viewership, as ticket prices for her games surged, with her regular-season finale against Ohio State being the most expensive women's college basketball game of all time. According to the Common Sense Institute Iowa, the "Caitlin Clark effect" boosted Iowa's economy, increasing the state's GDP by up to $52.3 million and generating $82.5 million in consumer spending.
Clark's influence on the court has also been significant. She was named the national female college basketball player of the year twice while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes and remains the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer. Her scoring ability and deep shooting range have made her one of the biggest draws in sports, with fans travelling hundreds of miles to watch her play.
Off the court, Clark has also made a notable impact. She has partnered with organisations like the Coralville Community Food Pantry to address food insecurity and promote literacy programs. Additionally, she has used her platform to address issues in women's sports, such as when she appeared on Saturday Night Live and criticised past jokes about women's basketball, writing new jokes to address the issue.
Overall, Caitlin Clark's impact on women's basketball has been immense. She has elevated the profile of the sport, driven economic growth, and inspired a new generation of fans and players. Her influence extends beyond the court, as she leverages her platform to address social issues and give back to her community.
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Caitlin Clark's off-court ventures
Caitlin Clark, the American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), is regarded as one of the greatest female collegiate players. Clark has also made a name for herself through her various off-court ventures.
Clark founded the Caitlin Clark Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of children through education, nutrition, and sports. The foundation has held campaigns, food pantries, and donation drives to support childhood nutrition for local food banks and promote literacy. In March 2022, Clark partnered with the Coralville Community Food Pantry in Coralville, Iowa, for a donation drive and meet-and-greet, encouraging $22 donations as a nod to her jersey number. In January 2025, the foundation teamed up with Scholastic's United States of Readers program to donate 22,000 books to under-resourced schools in Iowa and Indiana. In March 2025, the foundation also announced plans to install Musco Mini-Pitch Systems, multipurpose recreation courts for sports like soccer, futsal, and basketball, in four middle schools within the Des Moines Public Schools district.
Clark has also made several media appearances outside of her basketball career. She made a cameo on Saturday Night Live in April 2024, critiquing Michael Che's past jokes about women's basketball and providing new jokes for him to read. She served as an executive producer on the ESPN+ docuseries Full Court Press, which premiered in May 2024 and followed three women's college basketball players during the 2023-24 season. Clark also appeared in a 90-second Nike commercial during the 2025 Super Bowl, featuring some of the world's top female athletes.
Through her off-court ventures, Clark has not only demonstrated her commitment to giving back to her community but has also helped to popularize women's basketball, a phenomenon dubbed the "Caitlin Clark effect." Her impact extends beyond the basketball court, as she continues to inspire and uplift others through her various initiatives and appearances.
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Previous Iowa players with the same jersey number
Caitlin Clark, born on January 22, 2002, is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Clark, who is regarded as one of the greatest female collegiate players, wore jersey number 22 and played for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Clark is from Des Moines, Iowa, and began playing basketball at age five, competing in boys' recreational leagues as there were no girls' leagues for her age group.
While Caitlin Clark made jersey number 22 famous in Iowa, she was not the first Iowa women's basketball player to wear the number. Susan (Koering) Orvis wore the number 22 jersey from 1993 to 1997 for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Orvis, who is from Stanwood, Iowa, played six-player basketball in high school and joined the Hawkeyes right after Vivian Stringer led the team to its first Final Four.
Orvis reflected on the impact of Clark and number 22 on the Iowa program and women's basketball as a whole, expressing her appreciation for Clark's commitment to taking Iowa to the next level. She also acknowledged the shared passion for the game and the Iowa program between herself and Clark.
In addition to her successful basketball career, Clark has made several off-court appearances and contributions. She made a cameo on Saturday Night Live in April 2024, criticizing Michael Che's past jokes about women's basketball during the Weekend Update segment. Clark also served as an executive producer for the ESPN+ docuseries Full Court Press, which followed women's college basketball players during the 2023-24 season. Furthermore, she has been involved in initiatives to address hunger and promote literacy, with her foundation donating books to under-resourced schools in Iowa and Indiana.
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Frequently asked questions
Caitlin Clark wore the number 22 jersey for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Caitlin Clark was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Caitlin Clark is a point guard.
Caitlin Clark played for All Iowa Attack, an AAU basketball program, until she graduated high school. She then played college basketball for the Iowa Hawkeyes. She now plays professionally for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark has made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live, been an executive producer on an ESPN+ docuseries, and appeared in a Nike commercial during the 2025 Super Bowl. She also has her own foundation, which has supported literacy and childhood nutrition initiatives.
