On January 22, 2026, Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark is celebrating. Today, she has many reasons to mark the occasion, as she stands as the most important player in the WNBA and the figure who sparked a substantial transformation with her arrival to the league.
Clark turns 24 with an impressive list of achievements behind her, beginning with having drawn unprecedented attention to the WNBA, generating historic arena attendance figures, outstanding television ratings, and a personal brand that blends seamlessly with her competitive drive, giving unprecedented visibility to women athletes.
Beyond celebrating her 24th birthday, it is worth remembering that players and the league are currently negotiating the next collective bargaining agreement and are hoping to secure significant improvements, largely because players like Caitlin, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese have brought a renewed and vibrant shine to the league.
A season filled with injuries for Caitlin Clark in 2025
The Indiana Fever were carving out an intriguing path toward a title from the opening games of the 2025 season. However, during the summer, several of their top stars went down with injuries, and the road became rocky, to say the least.
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham ultimately had to watch the remainder of the season from the bench due to physical issues, even as their teammates managed to continue piling up victories.
That run earned the Fever a spot in the semifinals, but limited depth eventually caught up with them. The Las Vegas Aces, who would go on to win the championship, ended their hopes.
Later, in December 2025, Clark attended training sessions with the women’s national basketball team, where she reunited with other league standouts such as Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.
I put together a pretty incredible stretch of never missing a game.”… “The fact is when you’re a professional athlete, it’s going to come at some point. That’s just how it goes. I think it’s honestly taught me more than I’ve probably ever learned through the course of my career of how to take care of your body, how to get right, how to stay healthy and then just taking time for yourself.
Clark said.
Some of Caitlin Clark’s achievements since arriving in the WNBA
Her arrival brought freshness and a new perspective to the WNBA, achieving something few ever have: making the entire sports world pay attention.
- Named 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year
- Two-time WNBA All-Star
- Set WNBA records for points, assists and 3-pointers by a rookie
- Had the first triple-double by a rookie in WNBA history
- Set the WNBA single-game record for assists with 19
Her collegiate legacy is also impossible to ignore.
- Set the all-time NCAA Division I scoring record with 3,951 points
- Set the NCAA Division I career 3-pointers record with 548
- Set the NCAA Division I single-season record for 3-pointers with 201
- Set NCAA Tournament Division I records for career points, assists and 3-pointers
- Iowa’s career leader in points and assists
- Most 30-point games by any player in Division I basketball over 25 seasons
She also earned numerous awards.
- AP Female Athlete of the Year (2024)
- Two-time AP college basketball player of the year
- Two-time Naismith College player of the year
- Three-time unanimous first-team All-American
- Two-time Big Ten female athlete of the year
- No. 22 retired by the Iowa Hawkeyes
Today she is the league’s defining figure, and she embraces that responsibility. Happy birthday, Caitlin.
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