The new queen of basketball, Caitlin Clark , has planted her flag in the WNBA - but it's not all smiles for the emerging face of the sport.
Despite her humble beginnings in Iowa, Clark - whose name translates to 'pure' in Irish - has proved she's a force to be reckoned with on the court. However, she continues to encounter problems both in and outside the sport, resulting in unwelcome anxieties for her family and millionaire partner.
The top pick in this year's WNBA Draft has exceeded expectations and recently became the first rookie in 16 years to make the All-WNBA first team. Clark has quickly earned her stripes and risen to stardom despite facing heavy scrutiny from peers and the press alike, and the Daily Express explored how success was never guaranteed for the new big fish of basketball.
Humble Beginnings
Clark was born to parents Brent and Anne in Des Moines, Iowa, where she grew up before also attending college in her home state. It was here that the family raised their budding star in a £500,000 ($650,000) house, which was built on a small plot in 2001.
And of course the property comes fully equipped with a basketball court that helped mould the budding baller. In addition to her prowess on the hardwood, Clark also showed promise in golf, tennis and volleyball, to name a few, before focusing on basketball.
Clark - who also has Italian heritage - grew up playing basketball with her older and younger brothers, often competing in age groups above her own. Her father insisted that be the case when they couldn't find a local girls' league for her age group - and it goes without saying that the early adversity paid off.
Who is Caitlin Clark's millionaire beau?
Clark was still studying at university when she began dating fellow Iowa Hawkeyes player Connor McCaffery in April 2023, although their relationship wasn't made public until August of the same year. McCaffery played for Iowa's men's team, where he was several years ahead of Clark.
McCaffery, 26, is estimated to have a net worth of £1.2million ($1.5m) after transitioning into a coaching career of his own, according to Sportskeeda . Following in the footsteps of his father Fran - who has been coach of Iowa's men's basketball team for 14 years - McCaffery currently serves as assistant of the men's team at Butler University.
Before this, the 6'5" star spent a year with the Indiana Pacers after accepting an entry-level position with the NBA franchise. He hasn't strayed far by joining the Dawgs, however, given that Butler is also based in Indianapolis, where Clark plays for the Indiana Fever.
Parental problems
Caitlin Clark is feeling the weight of fame as she adjusts to being a star athlete, facing criticism from commentators and players who think she's unworthy of the attention. She has also been unfairly targeted by rivals during games, which has understandably led to her parents becoming increasingly worried about their child.
In an interview with the Washington Post , Clark commented on the impact that scrutiny has on her loved ones: "They see all this stuff, too. You have to remember, we're regular people with feelings. My parents have feelings. It can definitely be hard at times.
"I think it's hard for people to remember, I just love playing basketball. This is my job. This is what I'm here for. I'm not here for all the other stuff."
Local News
