Caitlin Clark is one of the most competitive players in the WNBA. Her competitive drive is something that impacts her life off the court as well, however. During a recent clip from an upcoming Netflix segment with Clark and David Letterman, she explained how being competitive is not always ideal in her personal life.
"Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's bad," Clark said of her competitive drive. When Letterman asked when it is bad, Clark provided examples.
"Oh gosh, when I'm just playing, like, a casual card game with my family or my friends," Clark said. "Everybody hates me by the end of the night, and I'm like, 'oh great, I ruined Christmas.' I won't do that this year, though."
Letterman followed up by asking if Clark feels that she has to win at everything.
"Well, I want to... I know I can't win every time. I loved Halloween, when we trick-or-treated in Des Moines growing up... I would be, like, so sweaty under my costume because I was in a dead sprint from house to house... I had to have the most candy. That's how I operated... My Dad would completely lose me in the neighborhood and I would, like, show back up at home and my Mom would be there giving out candy.
"And my Mom would get pissed at my Dad because it's like, 'why did you lose our daughter? Why is she running through the neighborhood by herself?' But it was because I was just trying to beat everybody."
Caitlin Clark's competitive drive
Clark, who earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2024, has taken her competitive fire to the league. It is displayed in her play, as Clark approaches the game with no shortage of passion. Perhaps she will make a serious MVP run in 2025.
Of course, Clark's primary focus is to help her team win games. The Fever reached the postseason in 2024 but were quickly eliminated in the first round. Indiana has added further depth around Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston, however. This is an Indiana Fever team that could make some noise in the 2025 postseason.
With Clark leading the way, the Fever will certainly have plenty of confidence. Clark's competitive drive will be crucial in 2025 and beyond. She is going to do everything she can to win, regardless of whether or not it is basketball-related as she said.