Being constantly in the spotlight is taking its toll on Caitlin Clark.
The Fever rookie, whose celebrity has helped boost ratings and revenue across the WNBA, said she leans on mental health resources to take care of herself amid the mass attention.
“It’s definitely difficult. I feel like I’ve had to grow up pretty fast,” Clark said in a press conference before Indiana’s 91-83 win over Angel Reese and the Sky on Sunday.
“I’m only 22 years old. I feel younger than that at times. I’m trying to navigate moving to a new city by myself. I’m trying to navigate playing in a new league on top of everything else that’s come with it.
“Obviously I’ve been given a lot of great things in my life and with that comes great responsibility. So it’s never anything I shy away from. I think mental health is very important and I think it’s something a lot of people in our country struggle with, especially young individuals.”
Clark went on to explain that she doesn’t strive for perfection, and has embraced asking for help when she needs it.
“I think the biggest thing is don’t be afraid to ask for help. I can’t accomplish everything in my life, like I’m not afraid to ask for help and tell people, ‘Today is just not my day.’ And that’s OK. Not every day has to be perfect,” Clark said. “There are people around you that are always going to support you and be there for you. I think especially as a professional athlete and obviously as a college athlete too, those are resources that are very important and should be accessible for all athletes not matter what level you’re playing on.
“… I think when you’re in the spotlight and seeing your every move, it can be taxing. So having [those] resources is very important and I think it’s something that more people should feel comfortable feeling that way and talking to somebody and I think it’s just a healthy thing.”
Clark seems to carry the weight of the world at times, especially when the internet is buzzing about her every move — both on and off the court.
Clark has been at the center of attention — and heated debates about how her star power has impacted the WNBA and its players — since Indiana selected the Iowa product with the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.
Clark’s welcome-to-the-league moments have included hard fouls and trash talk.
The Fever’s two matchups with the Sky this month involved chippy moments with Clark.
Chicago guard Chennedy Carter was called for a flagrant foul on Clark during the Fever’s win over the Sky on June 1.
Then, Sky rookie Angel Reese was hit with a flagrant foul during Sunday’s game, when her forearm made contact with Clark’s head under the basket.
Sun star DiJonai Carrington mocked Clark for flopping on a foul call during Connecticut’s 89-72 win over Indiana on June 10.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver discussed Clark’s celebrity and the pressure she’s under during an appearance on ESPN’s pre-game show, “NBA Countdown,” before the Celtics’ Game 3 win over the Mavericks in the NBA Finals last week.
“I think Caitlin [Clark] knows, she’s ultimately got to prove it on the floor, and you can’t anoint stars in this league,” Silver said. “.. I believe she’s going to deliver. She seems to have the character and the drive and the will and the talent. But let her evolve as a player. I want to take the pressure off her, not put more pressure on her.”
The former All-American garnered fame while at the University of Iowa, where she became the NCAA’s Division 1 all-time leading scorer for men’s and women’s basketball in her senior year.
Clark’s star power helped break college attendance and revenue records, and that has since carried over to the WNBA.
The WNBA opened the 2024 season with its highest attendance in 26 years and the most-watched games ever on national TV, the league said in a press release.
The Fever-Sky game on Sunday pulled in 2.252 million viewers on CBS, the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years on any network.
The game peaked with nearly 3 million viewers.
The Fever (5-10) face the Mystics (2-12) in Indiana on Wednesday.
