From a young age, Caitlin Clark has been accustomed to the limelight, but during her formative years, her parents took steps to shield her from the pressures of early fame. In the ESPN+ docuseries “Full Court Press,” it was revealed that Clark’s parents would have one of her brothers intercept the mail to hide college recruitment letters she received while still in middle school.
“My parents would tell me when you get home after school, make sure you’re the first one to get the mail every day,” Blake Clark, her brother, explained in the series. “So I would take the mail and hide it.”
This protective measure by her parents, though perhaps controversial to some, was a decision they believed was in her best interest to maintain a normal childhood as much as possible.
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Despite their efforts, Caitlin Clark blossomed into an elite basketball recruit and eventually became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. This achievement underscores that the attempt to shield her from early recruitment pressures didn’t hinder her growth as a standout athlete.
Recently, Clark acknowledged the challenges her parents face in dealing with negative commentary directed at her, a byproduct of her high-profile status. “They see all this stuff, too. You have to remember, we’re regular people with feelings. My parents have feelings. It can definitely be hard at times,” Clark shared in an interview with The Washington Post. “Honestly, I feel like I have a pretty good skill of blocking everything out. I think being in this position, you better have that skill, or else it’s going to break you at some point.”
As she continues her journey, now eyeing the WNBA Rookie of the Year title, Clark remains focused.
Staying healthy and maintaining her momentum are her current priorities.
