Caitlin Clark’s humility shines amidst fans’ growing affection

In recent years, few athletes have matched the rise of Caitlin Clark. Her popularity transcends barriers of race and gender, and she has every reason to gloat about her achievements. But that's not who Caitlin Clark is, as evidenced by her humble demeanor captured on video.

Shortly after being named TIME magazine's 2024 Athlete of the Year, Clark attended the annual "A Year in TIME" celebration in New York City. During the event, she spoke about her reaction to her ever-growing stardom.

"I think what people love the most is the emotion that I play with," said Clark at this event. "I think it's easy to connect with. I think they can feel that I'm real on the court."

These words perfectly align with an observation made by TIME magazine's Sean Gregory in his piece on the Athlete of the Year:

"Clark, it quickly becomes clear, is polite and down-to-earth but also has not an ounce of false humility."

Caitlin Clark keeps everything in perspective

Just like the millions of admirers at Indiana Fever games and social media platforms, Clark knows what it's like to be a fan. Even as her list of accolades grows at a rapid pace, she has emphasized staying grounded and understanding the perspective of those watching from the outside.

"I was just that young girl screaming for an autograph," Clark said at the TIME magazine event. "That takes 10 seconds of somebody's time, so I try to do that as much as I can."

Clark is well aware of the power of perception. With or without the bright lights and the cameras, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year makes an effort to stay as real as possible.

"When I step off the court, I try to be, like, very authentic and very genuine, and make as much time for people as I can," she said.

Clark has also expressed her appreciation for those who help elevate the sport that she loves. In particular, she has given a shoutout to the company Gainbridge for their empowerment of women's sports.

Caitlin Clark expresses her gratitude to Gainbridge. Image source: instagram.com/caitlinclark22

"Thanks for investing in women's sports, Gainbridge!" Clark said on her IG story.

Many people across the internet have expressed their gratitude to Clark, thanking her for her contributions to the sport.