Being in the spotlight constantly takes a toll on Caitlin Clark.
The Fever rookie, whose public profile has helped boost the WNBA’s overall viewership and revenue, said she’s turned to mental health resources to take care of herself amid the public spotlight.
“It’s definitely been tough. I feel like I’ve had to grow up pretty quickly.” Clark said at a press conference. before Indiana’s 91-83 win over Angel Reese and the Sky on Sunday.
“I’m only 22 and sometimes I feel younger. I’m dealing with moving to a new city on my own and playing in a new league on top of everything else that comes with it.”
“Obviously, I’ve been given a lot of great things in life but with that comes great responsibility so I never try to shy away from that. I think mental health is so important and I think it’s something that a lot of people in our country struggle with, especially young people.”
Clark went on to explain that she doesn’t strive for perfection and believes in asking for help when she needs it.
“I think the biggest thing is not to be afraid to ask for help. I can’t accomplish everything in life, so don’t be afraid to ask for help and tell people, ‘Today’s not my day,’ but that’s okay. Every day doesn’t have to be perfect,” Clark said. “There are people around you that are always going to support you and be there for you. Especially as a professional athlete, and certainly as a college athlete, those are such important resources and I think they should be available to all athletes, regardless of what level they’re playing at.”
“…I think it must be hard to be in the spotlight and have everything you do seen. So [those] Having resources is so important and I think more people should feel that way and feel comfortable telling someone, and I think that’s a healthy thing.”
Clarke sometimes seems to be carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, especially when her every move on and off the court becomes a talking point on the Internet.
Ever since Indiana selected the Iowa native with the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, Clark has been the center of attention and heated discussion about how her stardom has impacted the WNBA and its players.
Clark’s welcome moment into the league included some hard fouls and trash talk.
Two matches between the Fever and Sky this month have seen him feud with Clark.
Chicago guard Chennedy Carter was adjudged to have committed a flagrant foul on Clark during the Fever’s June 1 win over the Sky.
And Sky rookie Angel Reese was awarded a flagrant foul during Sunday’s game when her forearm made contact with Clark’s head under the basket.
Suns star DiJonai Carrington mocked Clark for a missed foul call during Connecticut’s 89-72 win over Indiana on June 10.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver appeared on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” pregame show before the Celtics’ Game 3 win over the Mavericks in last week’s NBA Finals and spoke about Clark’s celebrity and the pressure she’s under.
“Caitlin [Clark] “She’s got to prove it on the court at the end of the day, and you can’t draft stars in this league,” Silver said. “I believe she’ll deliver. She seems to have the character, drive, determination and talent, but I want to let her develop as a player. I want to take the pressure off her, not put it on her.”
A former All-American, she rose to fame during her time at the University of Iowa, becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball during her senior year.
Clarke’s star power helped break college attendance and revenue records, and that influence has since carried over to the WNBA.
The WNBA announced in a press release that the 2024 season kicked off with its largest attendance in 26 years and its most games ever viewed nationally on television.
Sunday’s game between the Fever and Sky drew 2.252 million viewers on CBS, making it the most-watched WNBA game on any network in the past 23 years.
The match drew an audience of approximately 3 million at its peak.
The Fever (5-10) will face the Mystics (2-12) in Indiana on Wednesday.
