Caitlin Clark’s reputation as a sharpshooter was cemented when she set the record for the most three-pointers in an NCAA season, across both men’s and women’s basketball. Now in the WNBA, the Iowa alum continues to dazzle with her long-range shots, breaking the single-season rookie record. But this knack for precision didn’t come out of nowhere; Clark has shared that her obsession with shooting dates back to her childhood.

A recent clip from Caitlin Clark’s interview at ’60 Minutes’ has been making the rounds on social media, shedding light on a childhood story that reveals her early obsession with long-range shooting. Even as a kid, Clark was training at Iowa. But it wasn’t until her father took her to a WNBA game in Minnesota that her focus shifted. After that trip, young Clark returned home, determined to add deep-range shots to her arsenal.

The Fever guard herself shared a fun memory about her dedication to improving her shot. “I’m begging my dad to, like, tear up some grass and pour more concrete so I could have an entire 3-point line in the driveway. Because it was like kind of slanted, our driveway was like slanted. Only had 3 point line on one side of the driveway, so I told my dad he had to tear up all this grass and he did,” stated CC.

Caitlin’s father, Brent, has been a basketball player as a college student himself. As the Indian Fever no.22 reveals, he has been her go-to person for sports and really was her first basketball coach. “He’s just somebody that’s been a rock for me,” Clark previously revealed. He shares her passion for the game, though in a contrastingly relaxed manner, reminding her to clam down in the process. But a little fierceness has done her good.

Clark has shot over 50% from beyond the arc in seven different games. Her remarkable shooting ability didn’t stop there—Clark also went on to break a three-point shooting record, further solidifying her reputation as a sharpshooter in the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark as a sharpshooter in WNBA

When Caitlin Clark entered the WNBA, she had already made a name for herself by surpassing Stephen Curry’s college three-point record, sinking 201 shots from deep during the 2023-24 season. With her elite shooting skills, it was no surprise that the No. 1 pick for the Indiana Fever was poised to break even more long-standing records held by seasoned veterans.

It was in June, during a matchup against the Washington Mystics, when Iowa grad truly showcased her shooting prowess, sinking 7 of her 13 attempts from beyond the arc and hitting over 50%. That performance was just a preview of what was to come. In late August, Clark had her sights set on breaking Rhyne Howard’s rookie record of 85 made three-pointers from 2022. The Fever guard took the court against the Connecticut Sun with that milestone firmly in her mind.

Jul 20, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Team WNBA guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots against USA Women’s National Team during the WNBA All Star Game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

But as records are meant to be broken,  Clark did just that. She hit her 86th three-pointer against the Connecticut Sun, surpassing Rhyne Howard’s rookie record of 85 in just her 31st game, compared to Howard’s 34-game season. The Des Moines native wrapped up her rookie campaign with 122 made threes, even overtaking Diana Taurasi’s mark of 121. This left her just 7 points short of breaking Sabrina Ionescu’s single-season record.

Though she had some shooting struggles in a few games against the LV Aces and in Game 1 of the first playoff round, her potential has been undeniable.

Well, Clark’s remarkable shooting abilities would have been difficult to develop without years of dedication, and her father deserves plenty of credit for fostering her passion from an early age. Taming her down, speaking to her passion, and cheering from the sidelines every given opportunity.