Caitlin Clark has decided to spend her WNBA off-season by taking up a whole new sport, following a record-breaking debut season with the Indiana Fever.
Caitlin Clark is switching from basketball to golf this winter in an unexpected career shift. The Rookie of the Year is currently enjoying a breakout season with the Indiana Fever, where she has broken numerous records and led her team to the WNBA Playoffs for the first time in eight years.
The Iowa graduate broke new marks most assists in a single season (337), made a league-high 122 three-pointers, becoming the fastest female in history to surpass 100 three-pointers, earned two triple-doubles, and scored the most points from her point guard position in a single season.
While Clark, 22, might have continued to perform in the Unrivalled League during its winter break, she has decided to compete on the LPGA Tour next month. The Annika pro-am event, hosted by Annika Sorenstam, will take place from November 13 to 17 at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, and will include a wide range of talent.
When asked about her involvement, Clark responded, “I love golf so the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am for a tournament with a legend like Annika Sorenstam’s name on it is so exciting,” completing: “I’m looking forward to seeing all the LPGA players on the driving range, being part of the Women’s Leadership Summit, and, of course, teeing it up in the pro-am with Annika.”
Meanwhile, tournament host Sorenstam stated, “I have been watching Caitlin’s career since college and now on the WNBA stage, and what she is doing to raise awareness of women’s sports both on and off the court is remarkable. I’m eager to meet Caitlin and have her join us at Pelican Golf Club in November for what promises to be a fantastic week for women’s sports.
The Annika will feature 120 players vying for a share of a $3.25 million (£2.4 million) payout, one of the richest on the LGPA Tour. It comes after Clark concluded a whirlwind season with Fever on social media, expressing her gratitude for the experience.
Clark wrote on X, “Year one (check emoji) – thank you to the many people who have helped me realize my childhood dream.” I’m filled with thankfulness as I reflect on the past year of my life. “See you all in year two.”
Prior to her professional career, the kid attended the University of Iowa for four years, where she won back-to-back national Player of the Year titles and set a new NCAA scoring record. She was selected as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft in April 2024, and later that month signed a rookie scale contract with the Fever.
In her rookie season, she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, which led the league. For her efforts, she got 66 out of 67 votes to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year award, with the other going to Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese.
