Caitlin Clark credits mom for protecting her from 'burn out' as a high school phenom

Caitlin Clark began showing promise early in her basketball career. She was already a star in sixth grade and regularly played against opponents older than her. While at Dowling Catholic High School, she was a two-sport star in her first two years before concentrating on basketball in her junior year.

In the New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce podcast, the WNBA star opened up about her parents’ role when she began competing in top tournaments. She explained the role of her mom, Anne Clark, during those early years (via Krysta):

“I played AAU, and then I played for my high school team, but my mom would be like, ‘She’s not playing more than three games or two games in one day!’ It can get crazy for the seventh-grade team and the eighth-grade team.

"My parents were really good about that. They didn’t want me to lose the love of it. You don’t wanna get burned out like you still want to be having fun when you’re doing it as a pro if you’re lucky enough.”

Caitlin Clark added that she often complained about Anne’s strict stance about playing more than three games a day. The Indiana Fever star said that she was “so fortunate” that her mom refused to give in to her stubbornness.

Clark continued that she's not burnt out because of her mom’s rules about the frequency of her basketball games early on in her career.

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Caitlin Clark’s parents regularly watch her play

Brent Clark and his wife, Anne Clark, are fixtures in their daughter Caitlin Clark’s games. From grade school basketball to the WNBA, they are often seen intently watching her play.

In Clark’s final home game at Iowa, where the NCAA all-time scoring leader was given a standing ovation, her parents were in the stands. They stood with the crowd in honoring the legendary point guard, who led Iowa to a 64-54 win against West Virginia.

The win against the Mountaineers pushed the Hawkeyes to the Sweet 16, where they beat No. 5 ranked Colorado.

Brent and Anne are also regulars in Indiana Fever games. When Caitlin Clark made her WNBA debut, her parents traveled to Connecticut to see her in action.

In one sequence, the point guard was called for a traveling violation, an infraction that promptly caused a reaction from the parents. Sportscenter highlighted the emotions of Brent and Anne following her eighth turnover. She would end up with 10 errors in a game the Fever lost 92-71 to the Sun.