Caitlin Clark was mainstream throughout the 2024 WNBA season. It wasn’t just the spotlight she gained but also the reception she received from other players and past players. As a generational talent, she was thrust into the limelight with more scrutiny than most rookies face, and it was amplified when she was named Time’s Athlete of the Year at the end of her rookie season.

Veteran guidance

Transitioning to the WNBA didn’t come easy for the Indiana Fever guard. While her on-court performances were good, she has had to battle rough tackles and fouls on the court and criticisms off it. She received all the spotlight, and it seemed everyone was watching the WNBA because of her. Players felt overshadowed by her rise, while critics dissected her every move. Yet, the rookie had a voice of support from Hall of Famer and Fever legend Tamika Catchings.

“She was one of the first people to text me after I got picked and still checks in on me,” Clark said of Catchings. “So it’s cool, somebody that’s not in your building every day but means so much to your community and the organization… She’s like a legend. Her number is up in the rafters. That’s somebody I idolized and looked up to. For her to take two seconds to check in on me and see how I’m doing, that’s obviously really special.”

Catchings, a former Rookie of the Year and one of the most celebrated players in WNBA history understood the pressures the 22-year-old faced. During her own rookie season in 2002, the Fever legend navigated similar challenges, albeit in a different era and cultural significance.

Clark’s connection to the Hall of Famer was personal, giving her a sense of embracing the moment and playing through criticisms. It was needed if she was to become the face of women’s basketball.

A storied footsteps

Playing 15 seasons with Indiana, the retired forward went from winning the MVP in 2011 to leading the Fever to their first-ever championship in 2012, earning Finals MVP honors. She also set the bar impossibly high as a four-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA. Her No. 24 jersey now hangs in the rafters of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a permanent reminder of her legacy—one that Clark will hope to recreate.

“Her championship trophy that she won sits in our locker room,” said the Fever guard. “It’s like right next to my locker…so I have to look at it every day.”

The Iowa product is undoubtedly on the right track. Her rookie season showed her bright future. She earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year title in a season that drew record-breaking viewership, transforming her into a household name.

The connection between the rookie and the legend could go a long way to serve as a blueprint for greatness. If going by what she encountered in her first season, the former Hawkeyes will face a lot of adversity if she wants to become a legend.