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Besides her on-court competitiveness and scoring prowess, Caitlin Clark is especially known for her kind and generous interactions with fans. Before tip-off and after long tiring games, Clark always takes out time to sign autographs for long lines of fans on the court.
The former Iowa guard has credited her mindset to former UConn star and her idol Maya Moore. In an interview, her former Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bluder said about the influence of the players in young fans' lives:
"She's (Caitlin Clark) definitely making a difference in kids' lives. For her, Maya Moore was a huge role model growing up. So now she's the Maya Moore of this generation.
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"And she understands that. She understands how important that was to her. To get that autograph after the game. To get that hug, to take that picture with," Bluder said. (via CBS Sports)
The Maya Moore effect on Caitlin Clark, explained
Ten years ago, a 12-year-old Caitlin Clark met Maya Moore after a Minnesota Lynx game.
She and her father, Brent Clark, drove from Iowa to Minneapolis for that. Although the interaction lasted all of 10 seconds, it was enough to inspire the young guard to always treat fans with kindness.
"Whether you play sports or don’t play sports, how you treat somebody matters," Clark said. (via USA Today)
"I just try to take as much time as I can for those young girls because Maya was so nice to me when I ran up to her, and that’s something that’s stuck with me all the way until I’m 22 years old"
Caitlin Clark got the opportunity to meet her idol once again this year. On March 3, the Naismith Player of the Year had a historic night, as she became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I surpassing Pete Maravich. Before the game, Moore surprised Clark.
When asked about the effect she had on Caitlin Clark, Maya Moore said (via USA Today):
"It’s super sweet to know that the time you take with the people who love watching you play matters and means something. It’s not necessarily about performing a certain way but being as genuine as I can, because that’s what people need."
"It’s humbling and encouraging to know I had a part in helping Caitlin continue that spirit of being good to people. It’s another reminder that we all have a role to play, and all have the ability to influence someone."
On Monday, Clark joined her idol as one of four athletes to win the Honda Cup.
Do you agree with Lisa Bluder's statements about Caitlin Clark? Let's know in the comments section below:
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