Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is not just a basketball phenom; she’s a beacon of hilarity and admiration in the sports world. As she gears up to revolutionize women’s basketball — if she hasn’t already done so with her stellar plays and meme-worthy celebrations — the 22-year-old has decided to pay tribute to the WNBA legend who molded her into the dynamo she is today.
Before Sunday’s showdown against the Minnesota Lynx, Clark was asked about her feelings on returning to Minneapolis for the August 24 rematch. Why is that date etched in gold? Because it marks the retirement of former WNBA MVP Maya Moore’s jersey. From that day forward, the No. 23 jersey will be as untouchable as an over-iced driveway.
Clark seized the moment to shower Moore, a four-time WNBA champion, with praise.
“I was super excited when I saw that that was the game they were gonna do it at,” Clark gushed, her eyes practically twinkling with nostalgia. “She deserves it, I know the fans will be absolutely incredible.” It was hard to tell if Clark’s grin was fueled more by admiration or by the delight of imagining fans in an emotional frenzy.
The Fever star, with a smile that could outshine a stadium spotlight, revealed that as a young hoop dreamer, Moore was her “LeBron James.”
“If you would’ve told me as a young kid that I’d be playing in the game that her jersey is retired at, it’s kinda full circle for me too,” Clark mused, her voice tinged with the awe of a child meeting their hero.
“She was my favorite player ever growing up, and that was who I loved watching. She was like my LeBron James as a kid. To just be in the building that night and to say I got to play in that game is super cool.” If we had a dollar for every time someone idolized LeBron, we’d be richer than his endorsement deals.
LeBron James’ impact on basketball is as immense as his sneaker collection, and judging by Clark’s tribute, Maya Moore had the same gravitational pull on her.
August 24th at the Target Center promises to be a night of legendary proportions, and Clark is beyond thrilled to be in the thick of it. Grab your popcorn, folks, because it’s not just a game — it’s a historic gala featuring one of the funniest, most talented rookies paying homage to her hero in the most heartfelt and amusing way possible.
