Finally, Caitlin Clark has a WIN in the WNBA. The tide seems to have shifted as the Indiana Fever took over the Los Angeles Sparks with a much-awaited 78-73 victory. It has been rough for Clark and the Fever since the season tipped off. Moreover, going on a losing streak affects an athlete’s mental health, especially for someone who has been the center of attention wherever she goes.

The Indiana Fever were on a 5-game losing streak, facing defeats twice from both Connecticut and New York, with the recent one coming against Seattle. Although these matchups were a close brush-up with a possible win, there was a struggle. However, today Caitlin Clark and the Fever overcame those obstacles together and conquered the game. Reflecting on the recent past weeks, Clark shared interesting insights.

Confessions of a Pro Athlete feat. Caitlin Clark

In the post-game interview, a major portion of the discussion involved talks about maintaining good mental health. Shedding light on how she navigated through her recent transition from college to pro, Caitlin Clark made a dear confession.

“Yeah, I think for myself it’s definitely been a whirlwind over the course of the last couple of months. Um, honestly I feel like I talk to the media more than I get to talk to my own family, which is really kind of sad in a way. Um, and it’s a lot for somebody that’s 22 years old like it can be tough at times, you know. Our team is really young, like it’s difficult navigating this. I absolutely love it and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Um, but I think just getting off social media, like that’s been you know that healthiest thing, it’s like this is my job, this is what I love to do, I never want to lose the fun of the game.”

More than being a pro, it’s the fun and love for the game that keeps Caitlin Clark going, as she put it, “I started playing basketball because you get a win and when you walk off the floor there are so many kids, young kids just screaming your name, you know love getting to watch you so, I think it’s the little things that remind me every single day why I do this and I love it.”

Addressing the elephant in the room, she then brought everyone’s attention to mental health and its importance, saying, “I think the biggest thing is you know mental health is very important. It’s important for professional athletes, it’s important for student-athletes, it’s important for every single person in this world, um feel like somebody to talk to so, um yeah, I guess it’s been something we’ve all been trying to navigate and continue to give ourselves grace.”

While Clark was not getting any wins before this one, she has already made a huge impact off the court.

Clark signs a new multi-year deal

Per Tuesday’s press release, Wilson Sporting Goods signed a multi-year basketball deal with Caitlin Clark. Inking this deal has made the first pick of this year’s WNBA draft the first female athlete to have a signature collection with Wilson. According to the press release, this deal will ‘innovate product across the WNBA, NBA and basketball at large.’

“Wilson is made to celebrate the most iconic moments in sport, and we have always aligned ourselves with trailblazers who break boundaries and write their own story. Caitlin Clark is not just a record-setting athlete, but a cultural icon who has had a profound impact on the game,” said the head of the global brand at Wilson, Amanda Lamb.

Soon, Wilson will be releasing basketball merchandise celebrating the former Iowa point guard’s achievements, partnering with Clark in the curation of her first-ever signature basketball line in different colors. “Wilson has been with me across some of the most pivotal moments in my career so far, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue driving basketball forward alongside them. It feels surreal to have my own basketball collection, and to affect what that means for future generations of athletes,” said Clark, expressing her enthusiasm.

What’s more interesting about this is the fact that it mirrors the 80s deal with Michael Jordan. MJ’s deal featured a signature collection of basketball in a series.