Caitlin Clark has had a string of milestone moments lately, but one from her childhood will be one she’ll never forget.
At the age of 12, while attending a Minnesota Lynx game, Clark hugged his hero, former WNBA No. 1 overall pick Maya Moore, on the court after the game. It was this encounter that “remained in my heart” for the Indiana Fever rookie, who will be making her professional debut this year. Month.
“Ten seconds can make a big difference in a person’s life,” Clark said recently. According to USA Today. “This is a good lesson. How you treat someone, whether they play sports or not, matters.”
Now 22 years old, Clark looks to emulate Moore, a four-time WNBA champion and former league MVP, on and off the court as his dominance at the college level continues to win new audiences and younger fans. It is said that .
“I try to spend as much time as possible for young girls, because when I ran to Maya, Maya was so kind to me. That stayed with me until I was 22. “It remains in my heart,” she said. she said.
Clark, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Fever in last month’s 2024 WNBA Draft, had a sweet reunion with Moore, 34, in early March, just hours before becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer in the Iowa-Ohio State game. I accomplished it.
ESPN’s “College Gameday” captured Clark’s reaction to Moore, and the former Hawkeye reflected on their past interactions.
“I still feel like I was so surprised at how tall I was that I ran across the court and hugged you,” the 6-foot guard told Moore.
“I am humbled and encouraged to know that I was able to help Caitlin continue her spirit of kindness,” Moore told USA Today.
“It’s great to know that spending time with people who love watching you play is important and means something,” the six-time WNBA All-Star told USA Today. .
“It’s not necessarily about performing in a certain way, but it’s about being as authentic as possible because that’s what people need.
“…This is another reminder that we all have a role to play and that we all have the ability to impact others.”
Moore was drafted by the Lynx in 2011 and played through the 2018 season.
She took a break from the game in 2019 to focus on her family life and dreams of service. As detailed in a personal essay In “The Players Tribune”.
Moore’s sabbatical continued and he focused on social justice advocacy until his retirement in 2023.
Clark and the Fever open the season on May 14 against the Connecticut Sun.
