Happy 24th birthday to Caitlin Clark. Even though it has been some time since she last appeared in a high-stakes basketball game, her influence on the sport remains unmistakable. The Indiana Fever guard, who turns 24 on Thursday, Jan. 22, continues to be one of the central figures shaping the present and future of women’s basketball.
Clark’s impact extends beyond the court. As the WNBA works toward a new collective bargaining agreement, the league’s growing visibility and commercial strength are widely credited to stars such as Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, whose popularity has drawn unprecedented attention to the women’s game. After being restricted to just 13 games during the 2025 WNBA season due to multiple soft-tissue injuries, Clark says she is now fully healthy. Following her first Team USA senior training camp practice in December, she described the setback as a valuable learning experience that deepened her understanding of recovery, body care, and balance as a professional athlete.
As she marks her birthday, Clark’s résumé underscores why she is regarded as a generational talent.
WNBA Accomplishments
2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year
Two-time WNBA All-Star
Rookie records for points, assists, and three-pointers
First rookie in league history to record a triple-double
Holder of the WNBA single-game assists record (19)
NCAA Achievements
NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader with 3,951 points
NCAA Division I career leader in three-pointers (548)
NCAA Division I single-season three-point record (201)
NCAA Tournament Division I career records for points, assists, and three-pointers
Iowa Hawkeyes’ all-time leader in points and assists
Most 30-point games by any Division I player, men or women, over the past 25 seasons
Major honors
AP Female Athlete of the Year (2024)
Two-time AP National Player of the Year (2023, 2024)
Two-time Naismith College Player of the Year (2023, 2024)
Three-time unanimous first-team All-American (2022–24)
Two-time Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year (2023, 2024)
Jersey No. 22 retired by the Iowa Hawkeyes
Together, these milestones reflect not only Clark’s individual excellence but also her lasting imprint on basketball at both the collegiate and professional levels.
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