Caitlin Clark, the Iowa Hawkeyes’ star player, has been drawing plenty of attention and praise for her intensity and demonstrative nature on the court. Her ability to shoot with precision has made her a favorite among fans. However, success didn’t come easy to her. A middle child, and a girl at that, Clark reminisces about spending most of her teenage years trying to justify her interests to her male peers. However, if there is someone who inspires her to go on despite the feeling of alienation, it’s Serena Williams, “her favorite athlete.”

In an elaborate feature covered by the Washington Post, Clark relates her experience growing up- trying to fit in with her likes and dislikes as a woman interested in basketball. She talks about how she aspires to be like Serena, strong in the face of hardships and breaking the barriers of gender inequality.

Serena Williams is an inspiration to young Caitlin Clark

Clark might be a fan favorite at such a young age, but her attitude has also made her the target of some criticism, with opposing coaches claiming she’s not as good as she thinks.

Despite the backlash faced over the years, Clark remains undeterred. She aspires to lead Iowa to their first Final Four since 1993 and to hold her head high as the No.1 WNBA draft pick. And for this, she looks up to none other than 23-time Grand Slam champion- Serena Williams.

Serena Williams is an international icon for women all over the world. It comes as no surprise that the four-time Olympic champion is Clark’s favorite athlete. Williams is an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and her fight against gender-based preconceptions throughout her career is surely creating a great example for Clark who has always looked up to her as a role model. She sees in Williams a determination and a drive to succeed that she herself possesses.

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Clark’s determination to succeed was evident from an early age. Even as a preteen, she was willing to go the extra mile to win. In a brutal game of basement basketball with her younger sibling Colin, she banged his head against a wall so hard that despite getting stitches, she has still not been able to grow his hair back.

“If I wanted to hang out with the boys, I had to hold my own. They didn’t take it easy on me. Every family function, it seemed like I would go inside crying. They wouldn’t pass me the ball. In the Easter egg hunt, I wouldn’t get enough eggs. It was just one thing after the next. I got picked on, but I loved it. That’s what made me who I am,” Clark said.

Clark’s competitive spirit serves her well on the court, where her coaches have compared her to Kobe Bryant, saying that she craves pressure and conflict and is always ready to take on the challenge of leading her team to victory.

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Although her journey to success hasn’t been without its challenges, Clark used them as motivation to become a better athlete and a stronger person following in the footsteps of her favorite Serena Williams!