All of us, for the majority of our lives, have looked up to one or more role models, and even Caitlin Clark herself has plenty of fans who look up to her as a role model. However, have you ever questioned the greats that the greats themselves look up to? After all, to get to where they are now, accomplished people need a source of inspiration. For quite some time, Caitlin Clark has been quite open about one of her role models: Maya Moore. “She was the person for me, honestly. I remember that Lynx team better than anybody”. But what changed suddenly? Nothing. As anyone can have multiple role models. And Clark is no different, as she recently spilled the beans on the identity of the other person she looks up to! Excited?
Caitlin Clark recently recorded an interview with David Letterman as part of his ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction….’ series. While the full episode is yet to hit Netflix, a sneak peek was recently released. The same highlighted the legendary interviewer questioning Clark about the origins of her dribbling skills. And guess the reply?
She taught herself the basics of basketball: Dribbling! And the inspiration? She revealed doing so because “I always wanted to be like my older brother”. Without knowing, Clark’s brother affected her. She highlighted being inspired to learn to ride a bicycle at the age of 3-4 years old, only because her brother was also learning that day. Some might call this the early showings of Clark’s competitive nature. Others might just claim that she had found her first role model.
A sneak peak of Caitlin Clark’s interview on David Letterman’s “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” pic.twitter.com/dhMZ5dZVQd
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) March 24, 2025
Caitlin Clark’s elder brother, Blake Clark, might have inspired his sister to pick up the basketball. However, he did not choose to do so himself in the long run and instead focused on football. Caitlin made a mark on the University of Iowa’s basketball roster. Meanwhile, Blake devoted 4 years as an Iowa State Cyclones Quarterback. He played for a total of 49 games, but could not raise any memorable individual stats to his name, unlike CC. Despite this, Blake did receive the Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award in 2023. On top of that, he was awarded the CSC Academic All-District in 2022, was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in all 4 collegiate years (2019-2022), and was on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (F21, S22, F22). So, there are more praises for her brother.
Even today, Blake Clark continues to be a significant influence in his sister’s life. As Caitlin stated during an interview with The Gazette, “He knows the game really, really well. I think that’s always something I can lean on him whenever I have a tough game or things aren’t going my way. He usually always watches if it’s on TV, or we have Big Ten+ and he pays to watch it, but I think he’s really honest, but I know it’s in the best interest of myself.” As the duo’s mother, Anne once revealed, both Caitlin and the family’s youngest child, Colin Clark, often go to Blake for advice. It helps that, as Anne highlighted, “Blake is always going to give his opinion.” The big brother advice is always there.
From her elder brother to a WNBA legend, several people helped Caitlin Clark reach where she is today. Due to that, she today stands as a role model for many aspiring athletes. Her talent? She learned from the best. After all, she fully accepts her role in society and does not let it get to her.
Caitlin Clark reveals not feeling any pressure to be a role model for kids: “never something I take for granted”
Caitlin Clark, when she was a young kid, she and her dad drove four hours from Des Moines to Minneapolis just to see a Lynx game. Getting there during warm-up, she revealed running up to Maya Moore and hugging her. Imagine the moment! “One of the most pivotal moments probably in my entire basketball career,” she said. Today, several girls would be looking at Clark, forming memories which they would later describe as being their career’s pivotal moment. There is no stronger reasoning to feel pressure than in situations like this. However, for Clark, nothing would come from taking that unnecessary load on the head.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s pressure; I think it’s something that’s really cool. That’s not something that gets old to me. That’s never something I take for granted. That’s not anything I ever feel there’s pressure from.” said Clark.
In a separate interview, Clark revealed that she was aware of the fans, especially the kids, who root for her and of the larger responsibility she carries. “I think that’s one of the privileges of being in the position that I am is I get to be a role model and our whole entire team gets to be role models,” she responded. “People look up to us – young girls, young boys, no matter who they are and I think the thing I would just say to them is the same thing I’ve said all my career is just dream big.”
Caitlin Clark speaks to the media before the Iowa women’s bakset ball game against USC and her jersey retirement Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.© Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We don’t know where Caitlin Clark’s WNBA journey will take her next. Wherever it does, one hopes that she continues holding the same standard of a role model, and spreads her reach amongst more people. And she definitely will. But for now, you can get more about her views from the interview.
The post Not Maya Moore, But Caitlin Clark Reveals Her Other Little-Known Role Model to David Letterman appeared first on EssentiallySports.