Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever’s newest basketball sensation, may have had the world at her feet on WNBA Draft night, but according to her, it was anything but a fairytale. You’d think being the No. 1 overall pick would be the peak of anyone’s career, but for Clark, the night played out more like a comedy of errors, minus the laughs.
Draft night is supposed to be the moment where everything comes together: family, friends, confetti — the works. But instead of soaking up her historic achievement, Clark found herself thrown into the whirlwind of post-draft chaos. “I was so upset because after I got drafted, I just got dragged out immediately and didn’t get to see any of the draft,” Clark revealed during a no-holds-barred chat on the “Fresh Talk” podcast. “I had my phone, but I couldn’t even go on it. It was torture. I didn’t even get to see Kate get drafted. That made me really upset.”
Yep, you read that right. The queen of college basketball didn’t even get to see her best friend, Kate Martin, get her big moment at No. 18. It’s like missing the best part of your own surprise party because you’re stuck giving interviews to people who probably don’t even know how many points you dropped in the Final Four. (Spoiler: a lot.)
Clark went from being the brightest star in the room to a glorified PR machine, whisked away for interviews, photo ops, and who knows what else. “I didn’t even get to take pictures with you guys,” she told her fellow former Hawkeyes and podcast hosts Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, and Jada Gyamfi. “Not with my family, not with Connor [McCaffery], my boyfriend — no one!” It’s safe to say the WNBA’s No. 1 pick was less “living the dream” and more “where’s my phone charger, please?”
Let’s not forget who we’re talking about here. This is Caitlin Clark, NCAA Division I’s all-time leading scorer. She led Iowa to back-to-back Final Four appearances, made defenders cry (probably), and sank more threes than a pool shark. By the time she set foot in Brooklyn for draft night, Clark was already a legend — but legends don’t get to sit back and chill, apparently.
Meanwhile, Kate Martin, Clark’s draft buddy and future Las Vegas Ace, had a much smoother night, casually watching the show unfold from her seat. Must be nice, right? When Martin’s name was called at No. 18, she strolled onto the stage without a care in the world, while Clark was somewhere backstage wondering if she could sneak out without being noticed.
But hey, at least there was an afterparty. Clark and her crew eventually hit up The Fleur Room, a high-end Manhattan lounge with killer views of the skyline. Photos from the night show Clark finally getting to let loose — no interviews, no flashbulbs, just pure relief that the media circus had finally left town.
Caitlin’s Rookie Season: Turning Frustration into Fire
Now, if you think Caitlin Clark let a chaotic draft night get in her way, think again. She hit the ground running in the WNBA like it was just another day at the gym. Her rookie season was one for the record books, featuring jaw-dropping performances, a WNBA All-Star nod, and, oh yeah, the 2024 Rookie of the Year award. Not bad for someone who spent half of draft night low-key fuming.
Still, despite the endless accolades, Clark’s got some big decisions on the horizon. Word on the street is that she’s been offered a cool $1 million to join the newly launched Unrivaled League, a 3-on-3 competition founded by WNBA superstars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. For those doing the math, that’s a whole lot of zeros for some offseason fun, plus the sweet bonus of revenue-sharing opportunities. But Clark remains undecided — probably because she’s already making defenders look silly in the full-court game.
One thing’s for sure: Caitlin Clark’s journey to greatness is far from over. Whether it’s deciding on her next move or lighting up WNBA courts, the draft-night drama is in the rearview. If she ever needs to vent about it, though, I’m sure there’s a podcast episode waiting to happen.
The Takeaway?
For all the chaos, Clark’s story is a reminder that even the most glittering careers have their not-so-glamorous moments. Draft night may not have gone to plan, but with a Rookie of the Year trophy and the basketball world at her fingertips, Caitlin Clark’s biggest challenges are still the ones she gets to dunk on.
