Basketball player turned golfer Caitlin Clark broadens her sporting horizons
Caitlin Clark has been making headlines as the WNBA season comes to an end, not only for her skills on the basketball court but also for her goals off it. Setting records and guiding the Indiana Fever to a postseason berth, the first overall pick in the draft has emerged as the face of a new era in the league. However, the focus now moves to a another level, one that is quite apart from the hardwood.
Clark’s trip has been extraordinary in every way. The 22-year-old has proven she is a formidable player by guiding the Iowa Hawkeyes to the national championship game in her final year of college and by winning the WNBA Rookie of the Year title. Her debut season was thrilling, full of performances that broke records and delighted both critics and fans.
But now that she’s finished her first campaign, Clark is focusing on a whole other class of competitors. The WNBA player is scheduled to make her professional golf debut next month, following jokes about taking up the sport in the off-season. Clark will take part in an LPGA Tour pro-am event that will be hosted by golf veteran Annika Sorenstam, as was announced on Monday.
The pro-am competition, which is slated for November 13 at Florida’s Pelican Golf Club, will pit Clark against other well-known athletes. Clark has the chance to put her golf skills to the test on a platform that is often only used by pros. For Clark, the LPGA event is a serious endeavor that feeds into her passion rather than a lighthearted outing.
“I love golf, so the opportunity to play in the pro-am for a tournament with a legend like Annika Sorenstam’s name on it is so exciting,”Clark shared in a statement. “I’m looking forward to seeing all the LPGA players on the driving range, being part of the Women’s Leadership Summit, and of course, teeing it up in the pro-am with Annika.” Her participation in the event is part of her partnership with Gainbridge, a company she represents as an ambassador.
Clark to join Women’s Leadership Summit ahead of LPGA Pro-Am
The pro-am won’t be Clark’s only involvement at the event. A day before hitting the links, she’ll also take part in The Women’s Leadership Summit, which aims to inspire women in various fields. The summit, held at Pelican Golf Club, will bring together leaders from sports, business, and other industries, with Clark set to be one of its featured guests.
Annika Sorenstam, who won 10 LPGA major championships and has cemented her place in the Hall of Fame, praised Clark’s contributions to women’s sports. “I have been following Caitlin’s career during college and now on the WNBA stage, and what she is doing to bring attention to women’s sports both on and off the court is outstanding,”Sorenstam said. “I’m excited to meet Caitlin and for her to join us at Pelican Golf Club in November in what will be an exciting week for women’s sports.”
