The WNBA star has opened up on her difficulties away from the court.
Caitlin Clark has admitted she has struggled to come to terms with the new level of scrutiny placed upon her after rising to the WNBA.
The No.1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft joined Indiana Fever and expectations are high that the former Iowa star can live up to her potential as a generational talent in women’s basketball.
But just weeks after being selected in the first round, the 22-year-old has had to face derogatory comments from a reporter and NFL rookie Cooper DeJean, while Antonio Brown made a crass remark about her.
There appears to be an air of jealousy about how Clark has taken basketball by storm, after setting the all-time record for most points scored in the NCAA. As a result, there as many fans clamoring for one of her jerseys as there are critics claiming she is overhyped.
In a teaser for ESPN+’s “Full Court Press,” Clark explained how it can be tough constantly being in the public eye.
“The hardest part about being Caitlin Clark I would say is having to feel like you’re always on,” Clark said. “You just have bad days. There are days where you don’t want to talk to anyone.
“Somebody comes up to you and this is their 10-second interaction, so you better smile and be kind. But at the same time, you just want to be normal sometimes.”
Clark hype set to go into overdrive
The hype surrounding Clark isn’t going to die down anytime soon as Clark prepares to make her competitive debut for the Fever.
She tasted victory for the first time since joining Indiana after beating Atlanta Dream 83-80 on Friday in front of a record crowd at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse. Clark scored 12 points, with eight rebounds and six assists, offering another promising preview to what she can do for the Fever this season.
With the WNBA season due to begin on May 14, there are so many fans eager to see Clark in action. And it could be a record-breaking day for the Fever as they witness what could be a historic moment in the league’s history.