What Caitlin Clark’s Parents Finally Admitted About Her Rise to MVP: A Secret Kept for Years

Caitlin Clark, one of basketball’s rising stars and Time’s 2024 Athlete of the Year, recently revealed an inspiring story from her youth that her parents had kept from her until now. Speaking at the Massachusetts Conference for Women with Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, Clark shared an anecdote about her early days competing in boys’ basketball leagues.

Clark grew up playing against boys because girls’ leagues were scarce where she lived. She explained, “I grew up playing with boys, and we never talked about how that was different or that was weird – that was just normal.” Competing at a high level early on set the stage for her remarkable career.

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A Controversial MVP Debate

During her conversation, Clark disclosed an incident her parents, Brent and Anne, only recently shared with her. Her father, who coached her team in a boys’ league, once faced pushback when league officials considered naming her the Most Valuable Player.

“They wanted to make me MVP of the league,” Clark recounted. “And these parents were like, ‘We can’t let a girl be the MVP of the boys’ basketball league.'”

Despite the opposition, Clark‘s talent on the court was undeniable. With a mix of humility and humor, she added, “I was just better than all of them,” which drew cheers and applause from the audience.

Instilling Confidence and Breaking Barriers

Clark credited her confidence to her upbringing, emphasizing how her parents encouraged her to chase her dreams without limitations. “My parents never told me, ‘You can’t do this or you can’t do that,'” she said. That mindset helped her overcome challenges and fostered her belief in herself, even when others doubted her.

She encouraged young girls to remain self-assured, saying, “When I have failed, I’ve been confident in myself. For the younger girls that are growing up and wanting to be something, just be confident in yourself.”

A Historic Year in Basketball

Clark also reflected on her whirlwind year, which included leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the NCAA Women’s Championship game, being selected first overall in the WNBA Draft, and winning WNBA Rookie of the Year. “It’s been crazy to think about how much my life has changed,” she said.

As a rookie with the Indiana Fever, Clark started all 40 games, averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. She also set a WNBA record for the most assists in a season, demonstrating her incredible talent and hard work.