As Caitlin Clark‘s jersey was lifted into the rafters and her number 22 officially retired, the demand for her memorabilia skyrocketed.
For Iowa Hawkeyes fans, her jersey is more than just a piece of sportswear-it represents her legacy, excellence, and unparalleled impact on the game. However, with this surge in popularity, counterfeit versions have begun circulating, fooling even some high-profile buyers.
One such victim was former NFL coach Jon Gruden, who unknowingly purchased a fake Caitlin Clark High School jersey as a gift for Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.
The incident, which was documented on Barstool Sports’ X account, started with excitement but quickly turned into a lighthearted embarrassment for Gruden.
Gruden fooled by a fake
Believing he had secured a unique and rare piece of Clark memorabilia, Gruden enthusiastically gifted the jersey to Portnoy, expecting a warm reception. Initially, Portnoy was thrilled, inspecting the jersey with excitement.
“This is sick!” Portnoy exclaimed as he held up the jersey. His admiration for Clark was immediately evident as he gushed about her dominance on the court.
“She’s my favorite athlete that I watch in sports right now! I love what she just did with telling the NBA to go screw off in the three-point contest, like I’ll do it in my league first! She gets no credit.”
However, the excitement quickly turned into laughter when it was discovered that the jersey was not authentic. Instead of Clark’s iconic number 22, the jersey featured number 11 – the number she wore during her time at Dowling Catholic High School.
Portnoy, realizing the mistake, took to X to clarify the mix-up, confirming that the jersey was a replica.
Portnoy’s reaction to fake jersey
Once Portnoy realized Gruden had been duped, he couldn’t resist teasing him.
“They saw you coming a mile away, look at this sucker walking in!” he joked, laughing at the blunder. The exchange remained friendly, with both men enjoying the moment despite Gruden’s unintended misstep.
The conversation soon turned toward Clark‘s Olympic snub, a topic that has been widely debated among basketball fans.
“How did we not get her on the Olympics? What’s up with that?” Gruden asked.
“Crazy,” Portnoy responded, summing up the disappointment many felt about Clark not making Team USA’s roster.
Clark’s growing popularity
Even though the jersey turned out to be fake, the moment highlighted Clark‘s incredible influence on sports culture. Her fiery competitiveness and loyalty to women’s basketball have earned her admiration across the sports world.
With just one professional season under her belt, Clark has already captivated fans and cemented herself as one of the biggest names in the game. If the overwhelming demand for her jersey is any indication, her popularity-and impact-will only continue to grow.
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