Caitlin Clark, the basketball phenom who has been terrorizing defenders in the WNBA, is now stepping onto a different kind of court—the golf course. And if you thought she was just going to leave the athletic magic on the hardwood, think again. The Indiana Fever star is making her pro-am golf debut at The Annika driven by Gainbridge event in sunny Bellair, Florida. Yes, that’s right: basketballs aren’t the only thing she plans on sinking.
At the tender age of 22, Clark has been invited to rub shoulders with some golf royalty at the event, sharing the fairways with Annika Sorenstam, one of the sport’s all-time greats, and the reigning world No. 1, Nelly Korda. And no, it’s not because they need someone to fetch golf balls or carry clubs—she’s actually pretty good at this whole golf thing.
But not everyone is convinced. Because, of course, why should they be? Cynics are always ready with a hot take, and this time it’s about the WNBA star dabbling in their precious golf world. Over at NBC’s Golf Today, the conversation took an expected turn when host Eamon Lynch couldn’t resist giving the usual spiel about celebrity athletes stepping out of their lane.
“There’s always that crowd that groans when a non-golfer steps in,” Lynch said. “They say the sport’s been overrun by celebs. But here’s the twist: when’s the last time women’s golf has been overrun by anything? Let’s be real.”
Famed golf journalist Beth Ann Nichols was even less subtle. She’s practically packing her tent and camping gear to catch Clark’s first swing. “I’ll be there at 6 a.m. sharp to watch her warm-up,” Nichols declared with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for concert tickets or Black Friday deals. “This is going to be fun. Cynics can stay home, but I’ll be front row, popcorn in hand.”
What makes this even more intriguing is the chance to witness Clark outside her usual chaotic basketball environment. Golf, in all its calm and collected glory, will give fans hours to observe the multi-sport marvel as she navigates sand traps instead of defenders. Nichols added, “You’ll see everything—the highs, the lows, the awkward conversations with other pro-am players. It’s like reality TV but with more divots.”
Clark has already done wonders for the WNBA, pulling in new fans left and right, so what’s stopping her from charming the golf crowd, too? Sure, the odds of a slam dunk are slightly lower on a golf course, but hey, at least the fans might get to see her slice a drive into the next fairway. That’s got to be worth something, right?
While it’s unlikely that Clark’s entire basketball fanbase will suddenly trade their courtside seats for spots in the rough, her presence in this tournament shines a light on women’s golf—something the sport could always use a bit more of. Call it the Caitlin Clark effect, or just call it good publicity. Either way, the Annika pro-am is about to get a lot more interesting.
So, skeptics can hold onto their putters and grumble, but one thing’s for sure: Caitlin Clark is about to prove that she’s not just a baller on the court—she’s ready to tee off and show everyone that her game is much more versatile than they think.
