Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is winning hearts. Her admission into the WNBA means more revenue for the league. She has exponentially increased the number of fans who attend the Fever games at Gainbridge. The New York Liberty also earned a record $2 million in revenue when they played against Indiana—all credits to Clark.
Hence, analysts and fans have always been curious to know the recipe behind her magic. While many attribute this to her childhood coaching sessions, others feel it is her inborn talent that has led her so far. However, some also don’t shy away from the fact that it might be because of her religious viewpoints as she follows Catholicism.
Caitlin Clark’s faith is a part of her
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Clark spent a major part of her childhood at Dowling Catholic High School. She also overtly expressed her love for her religion. As per Des Moines Register (h/t: Religion Unplugged), Caitlin Clark shared, “We get to live our faith every day. Dowling starts every day with prayer and ends every day with prayer. This is a big reason why Dowling has such a special culture and is such a special place to go to school.”
What Clark did over the next few years is nothing short of brilliant. She went on to surpass the legendary Pete Maravich as the NCAA All-time scorer. Plus, she singlehandedly took the Hawkeyes to two consecutive NCAA Finals. Clark made a place for herself in the hearts of her fans with her signature threes. It’s her fans and talents she has been bestowed upon by the universal forces that drive her, as per her high school coach, Kristin Meyer.
“She knows that she has some talents that other people weren’t necessarily born with, and she’s just looking to maximize them not just for herself but for her teammates, and on an even bigger scope for the fans,” Meyer told Crux as per Religion Unplugged. Meyer further added that it is her godly gifts that have propelled her to enjoy every moment of her skill and also bring joy to her fans. “For two hours, she lets them have this great experience, and she takes that pretty seriously, and knows that those gifts from God are an opportunity to bring joy to other people.” And it’s not that Meyers is wrong.
Has religion really helped Clark?
She has an exceptional ability to find open spaces. She is one of the few players who is as good at assists as she is at scoring. And her rebounding ability is also no less. Thus, there is no denying that her ability to read situations and then adjust accordingly is unparalleled. And much of it could be attributed to her faith. Caitlin Clark has learned to be hardworking and use her talent to her full potential through her understanding of her religion. She is a dedicated baller who sticks to her schedule.
All this has been possible because she learned to have a rigorous work ethic. Though Clark is empathetic, on the court, she never backs down. She is flamboyant, aggressive, and knows her game. She took the onus of the Iowa Hawkeyes to lift the team towards glory. While Clark has mentioned that her religion has helped her so far, the community offers a safe space for her.
Her community is her haven
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The pastor of St. Francis, father Joseph Pins, also spoke highly of Clark. He revealed that Clark is not only an ardent student of basketball but also has a high regard for her religion. He was quick to remark that he had seen Clark grow and develop into a disciplined human being. Notably, Pins has known the Clark family for quite a few years. He is close to them and also enunciates that the community is “very proud of Caitlin.”
“We’re proud of our alumna who has done such a great, great, great, thing in life,” he said, adding, “It’s always good as we form children to watch this go through and see success not just on the basketball court but also in her faith life.”As for the present, Clark was drafted as the number one pick in the WNBA. She then had record sales for the Indiana Fever. The crowd has literally gone crazy to see their favorite balling star.
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The WNBA for the first time, is also ready to provide charter flights so that the players can escape long lines and travel safely. All of this, as per experts, is due to Caitlin Clark, who has been helping the WNBA increase its revenue. Clark’s games are recording sell-out stadiums, something the Fever couldn’t witness in the previous season. Moreover, Clark has not only been an excellent player, but she has also paved the way for future generations.
So, there is no denying that her faith has helped her through rough times and also gotten her to pave her own path. Do you believe it’s her faith that keeps showering blessings on Clark’s path as she continues to grow? Share your thoughts in the comments.