Caitlin Clark might be off the court, but she’s far from finished. Sidelined for most of the season with a groin injury, the star guard is still working her way back, and her return remains uncertain. Even so, whenever she suits up, Clark leaves a mark, averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 assists per game.
But just before the injury, she hit a rough patch, sinking only 1 of her last 23 three-point shots and shooting a career-low 29.5% from deep, which is her coldest streak since her Iowa days. Still, through every setback, it’s not the roar of the crowd that keeps her grounded; it’s the love and loyalty of her family. They’re the ones behind the scenes, lifting her up and keeping her focused. Let’s meet the people who have Caitlin’s back through every high and low.
Who Are Caitlin Clark’s Parents?
Caitlin Clark was born to Brent Clark and Anne Nizzi Clark, who raised their three children, Blake, Caitlin, and Colin, in West Des Moines, Iowa. All three siblings attended Dowling Catholic High School. Caitlin is the second of the three. The Clark family has a rich athletic tradition, with eleven relatives having played college sports, laying the groundwork for Caitlin’s path to basketball stardom.
“‘Be confident,’ but also the biggest thing over the course of the last couple of months, ‘Soak in every single second,’” Caitlin Clark said of their advice at the draft last year. ‘It goes fast. This is once in a lifetime, so enjoy every single part of it.”
Her confidence is one of the reasons that makes her stand apart. Clark is aggressive and stands on her ground in every situation. Even in her feud with Jacy Sheldon, where she was harshly fouled two consecutive times. She then put down a three over Sheldon later in the match and shouted, “You Like That?”
Who Is Caitlin Clark’s Father?
Brent is an executive with an agricultural products supply company but has an athletic background as well. Brent graduated from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, in 1988, where he played basketball and baseball, becoming a four-year letterwinner for both sports. He earned First Team All-Conference honors for the baseball team and Second Team All-Conference honors for basketball, per Today. His basketball interest, coupled with being there for his daughter, makes him a regular at Clark’s games.
“She’ll look to the stands every so often, and I try to give her some reassurance,” Brent previously said of showing up for his daughter. “I try to do the best I can.” In addition to being one of her biggest supporters, Brent Clark also played a hands-on role in Caitlin’s early development as a basketball player. As her first coach, he helped shape her fundamentals and mindset from a young age. Even now, he likely continues to offer guidance and encouragement after every game, not just as a former athlete and coach, but as a devoted father who has always been in her corner.
Who Is Caitlin Clark’s Mother?
As for her mom, she also contributes to Clark’s athletic talent as Anne’s father, Bob Nizzi, was the football coach at Dowling Catholic in Des Moines. Anne worked in marketing as the vice president of product marketing at American Enterprise Group Inc. She now helps her daughter’s career by leading strategic partnerships for CC22 Ventures LLC.
According to Anne, Caitlin’s been a natural at sports since she was young. “She’s not one to sit around,” she said in 2017. “She likes to just go. She would ask her dad, ‘Let’s go hit golf balls,’ or ‘Let’s throw the football.’”
Even today, as she is sitting out with injuries, she seems to be itching to get back on the court. That itch is one of the reasons she hurried back to court before she was completely fit. Let’s find out how her brothers fared in their childhood as well as in adulthood. On the sidelines, she is seen repeatedly cheering for plays and even arguing with referees. Let’s find out what hardened her drive, namely, her siblings.
Who Are Caitlin Clark’s Siblings?
Caitlin Clark’s older brother, Blake Clark, made his mark as a quarterback for the Iowa State Cyclones after shining at Dowling Catholic High School. A dedicated student-athlete, Blake majored in engineering and served as Iowa State’s holder on field goals from 2019 to 2022. Reflecting on their upbringing, he described a childhood steeped in sports.
“We were always involved in sports, and at home, we were always around sports,” Blake told the Cedar Rapids Gazette in 2021. “We watched sports at night, whether we would go to Drake and watch basketball games, watch our cousins play basketball games or tournaments. When you’re just around something that much, it’s what you do, too.”
Colin Clark, Caitlin’s younger brother, carried on the family tradition at Dowling Catholic, excelling in basketball and adding to the Clark legacy. He recalled how simple one-on-one games at home shaped Caitlin’s fierce competitiveness.
“There was a loose ball, and she ended up shoving me into the corner of the basement wall,” Colin said in an interview. “Split my head open. Got four staples.”
That relentless edge, the same intensity seen today when Caitlin challenges defenders or argues calls on the court, was already present when she was just a kid battling her brothers in the basement. Through highs and lows, one thing remains clear: Caitlin Clark’s journey has always been a family affair.
From the basement games with her brothers to national headlines in college and the WNBA, the foundation of her success is built on years of support, sacrifice, and shared love for the game. In times of triumph or struggle, it is her family that fuels her competitive fire and keeps her grounded. As she fights to return from injury, that same unwavering support is what will carry her forward, one step, one game, and one comeback at a time.
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