Caitlin Clark grew up idolizing Maya Moore, a basketball legend whose influence sparked Clark’s own passion for the sport. “My love for women’s basketball started because of her and how incredible the Lynx were,” Clark shared with USA TODAY Sports in May. “I wanted to be just like her.”
When Clark was just 12 years old, her father drove her from Des Moines, Iowa, to Minneapolis to watch the Lynx play, with Moore leading the charge for the four-time WNBA champions. After the game, as fans gathered on the court, young Clark seized the moment and ran to hug her hero, Moore.
Reflecting on that day, Clark said, “Ten seconds can go a long way in somebody’s life. That’s a valuable lesson, whether you play sports or not—how you treat someone really matters.”
Now, as a rookie star for the Indiana Fever, Clark will return to the Target Center on Saturday, where Moore’s jersey will be retired in a pregame ceremony. For Clark, this moment is especially poignant. “As a little kid, this is a full-circle moment for me,” Clark said after a recent Fever practice. “Living out my dream of playing in the WNBA and being there when they’re retiring her jersey, someone who has done so much for this league and society—it’s really special. Meeting her after my college season and now playing at the Target Center, where I watched my first WNBA game, on her night, will be unforgettable.”
Clark and Moore first met in March when Moore surprised Clark before Iowa’s senior night game. The introduction, orchestrated by ESPN with help from State Farm, was a dream come true for Clark. When Moore walked into the hallway outside Iowa’s locker room to greet her, Clark couldn’t contain her excitement, squealing with delight and admitting she felt like she was “fangirling so hard” as she hugged Moore multiple times before preparing for the game.
This Saturday, as Moore’s jersey is raised to the rafters, Clark will be there not just as a fan, but as a player who has carried the torch lit by her idol.
