The world already knows that Caitlin Clark can torch a defense, sink buzzer-beaters from another zip code, and light up scoreboards like a fireworks display on the Fourth of July. But, apparently, her competitive drive doesn’t take a day off—whether she’s breaking records on the court or whipping up a pizza in Italy.
Flashback to Clark’s Iowa days: the Hawkeyes’ sharpshooter and her teammates found themselves tossing dough and debating pizza ratings instead of plays and free throws. Sounds innocent, right? Wrong! What started as a fun pizza-making session during Iowa’s Italy trip quickly turned into a cutthroat culinary showdown when Clark’s then-teammate, Kate Martin, dared to give Caitlin’s pizza an A-minus. Oh, the audacity!
“Big Fat F, F, F!” – Caitlin Clark’s Response is as Savage as Her 3-Pointers
To the uninitiated, an A-minus might sound like a solid score. But for the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, this was a travesty—a gut punch! Clark couldn’t have been more aghast if Martin had called her jumper “just okay.” With the intensity of a coach calling a timeout during crunch time, Clark yelled:
“A+! A++!”
Kate Martin, enjoying every bit of her friend’s fury, coolly responded by upping the stakes and, with a mischievous grin, rated her own pizza “A-plus-plus-plus.” Clark’s reaction? She stomped over to Martin’s pizza, looked at it like it was a turnover in the fourth quarter, and dropped a bombshell rating that was as brutal as it was unexpected:
“Big fat F! F! F!”
Game. Set. Match.
But Martin wasn’t backing down either. Like a seasoned trash-talker who knows exactly how to push her rival’s buttons, she smirked and claimed that her pizza had “perfect symmetry” and a “meticulous use of ingredients,” making it, in her eyes, the clear winner. The result? A steaming, spicy rivalry served up, fresh from the oven.
From Slicing Pizzas to Slicing Defenses: Caitlin Clark’s Competitive Fire
Clark’s refusal to lose—whether in basketball or pizza-making—is no joke. Just ask Indiana Fever coach Christie Sides, who recently weighed in on Clark’s unrelenting drive in the WNBA. During an episode of Indiana Fever All Access, Sides didn’t hold back with the praise:
“When you talk about the greats in this game—the Michael Jordans, Kobe Bryants, and Steph Currys—they’re already putting Caitlin in that category,” Sides said with the confidence of someone who’s seen that same competitive fire up close.
And Clark, never one to downplay her own ambition, confirmed the coach’s words in the same interview:
“One of the biggest things I’ve tried to bring to this team is just that fire, that competitive spirit. I think it affects every single person around me, and it makes them go a little more too.”
This isn’t just locker room talk. Clark’s intensity propelled the Indiana Fever to their first postseason appearance since 2016, a drought that had fans wondering if the Fever’s playoff chances were extinct. While they got swept by the Connecticut Sun, Clark’s impact was undeniable. Just wait until next season—when she’s out for blood, revenge, and probably a few more A++ ratings.
From Courtside to Kitchen: Competitive Banter That Could Bake a Pizza
But let’s rewind to that fateful pizza moment one last time. Who knew that a lighthearted pizza-making session could reveal so much about a player’s mentality? While some athletes might let an A-minus slide, Caitlin Clark’s reaction was a masterclass in intensity, as she turned a culinary critique into a gladiator-style takedown.
Because if you want to beat Caitlin Clark—whether it’s on the court, in the kitchen, or even in a friendly game of tic-tac-toe—you better come prepared. Anything less than an A++ just isn’t going to cut it.
As for Kate Martin? She might have dodged the fire on the basketball court, but that day in Italy, she learned the hard way: You can’t dish it out unless you’re ready to take it. After all, Caitlin Clark’s competitive streak is a force of nature. Whether it’s pizza-making or play-making, if you give her an A-minus, be prepared to eat your words… with a side of extra cheese.
So, in case you ever find yourself in a kitchen with Caitlin Clark, remember: the only thing she hates more than a turnover is a lukewarm A-minus. And as for that “Big Fat F,” well, some rivalries are best served—extra spicy.