Move over, seasoned WNBA veterans, Caitlin Clark has arrived, and she’s bringing a crowd that’s bigger than your grandmother’s Thanksgiving guest list. The Indiana Fever rookie, fresh off a spectacular first season in the WNBA, is already more famous than some of her more seasoned peers, and—get this—she’s even stirring up buzz in golf. Yep, golf. The sport where enthusiasm usually stays as calm as a Sunday nap.
If you haven’t been paying attention to her on the court, let’s refresh your memory: Clark just wrapped up her debut season, averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a dizzying 8.4 assists per game. But clearly, she’s no one-trick pony. She’s gone from dishing out assists in the WNBA to handing out autographs on the golf course. At the ripe old age of 22, Clark has managed to corral over 3 million Instagram followers and another half a million on X (formerly known as Twitter for those of us who still refuse to call it X).
And just when you thought her fanfare couldn’t get any more excessive, she shows up at the LPGA’s Annika pro-am tournament at Pelican Golf Club, playing with world No. 1 Nelly Korda and golf legend Annika Sorenstam. If you think golf is boring, try watching it when Caitlin Clark is involved—it’s like if Tiger Woods was signing autographs and chatting it up with fans (except Tiger would never). According to Christine Brennan of USA Today, who’s covered more golf than most of us have had hot dinners, Clark’s autograph lines are pulling more enthusiasm than any she’s ever seen—even from the crowd of Tiger’s heyday. The difference? Clark actually takes the time to sign things—gasp.
“Clark does this everywhere she goes,” Brennan gushed on social media, clearly still in shock that a WNBA player could outshine seasoned golfers in their own sport.
NBC Sports chimed in to note that this year’s event sold 12 times more tickets than last year. I mean, even if you didn’t know Caitlin Clark from a can of paint, that’s the kind of ticket boost that makes tournament organizers sleep easy at night. Nelly Korda herself couldn’t help but fan-girl a little, admitting that Clark’s influence goes way beyond the basketball court. It’s not every day that a basketball star comes onto the golf course and gets golf pros excited about, well, anything.
“To see the influence that she has on people, bringing them out here—it’s really cool to see firsthand,” Korda said, probably half-wishing she could bottle up that charisma for her own use.
Annika Sorenstam, a woman who’s been around the block a few times in the world of golf, was also blown away by the phenomenon that is Caitlin Clark, noting how unusual it was to see young fans with signs at a Wednesday golf event. “It’s awesome. I love all the young girls with the signs,” Sorenstam said. What she really meant was, “Why don’t I get this kind of attention on a Wednesday?”
Clark, however, is probably just laughing all the way to the autograph table. Not even a full year into her professional career, and she’s already being hailed as one of the most influential athletes out there—on the court, on the course, and, for all we know, maybe at your local grocery store. Stay tuned, because with Clark’s star power, she may soon be selling out arenas and golf courses in the same week.
The real question is, what’s next for Caitlin Clark? Tennis? NASCAR? Knitting competitions?
