INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 reaches out to her team mates in the second half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826035
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 reaches out to her team mates in the second half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826035
Today, Caitlin Clark has become synonymous with the Indiana Fever. The player has been with the team for her whole professional career. However, one decision made her who she is today.
During her college basketball days, Clark had a crucial choice to make. She could either go to Notre Dame, which is universally known for producing some of the world’s best athletes, or pick a different route.
“As a kid, you want to go to Notre Dame. It’s the same as Notre Dame Football. It’s like the coolest thing in the world. It’s Notre Dame. It has that tradition. They’ve had so many great players go through there in every single sport.” She explained.
Despite her admiration for Notre Dame, she ultimately trusted her instincts.
“But I just knew, something… I could feel it in my gut… I’m not supposed to go there.” She further added in the 2025 episode of the New Heights podcast hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 11: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 throws a pass against the New York Liberty on August 11, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA AUG 11 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26081143
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 11: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 throws a pass against the New York Liberty on August 11, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA AUG 11 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon26081143
Therefore, instead of choosing the powerhouse that was Notre Dame, Clark went for the University of Iowa instead. After joining the Iowa Hawkeyes, she essentially became the centerpiece of the team.
She would go on to lead the NCAA Division I in scoring. In her Freshman year, she averaged a staggering 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Later, during her sophomore year, she debuted the season with 26 points, taking her team to victory against New Hampshire with a 93–50 scoreline.
The Iowa Hawkeyes managed to make it to the National Championship but lost to the LSU Tigers in 2023. In a 2024 match against the team, Clark scored a staggering 41 points and helped the team win with a 94–87 score.
This essentially helped cement her as the first-pick draft favorite. In April 2024, she was picked by the Indiana Fever as the first overall pick.
Caitlin Clark's journey led her to the Indiana Fever
By the time the Indiana Fever picked Clark, she was already a two-time Naismith College Player of the Year, a three-time unanimous first-team All-American, and led Division 1 in scoring as well as assists.
She had built an impressive career without the help of Notre Dame. At Iowa University, she'd become one of the best college basketball players to grace the court.
Naturally, when the Indiana Fever won the draft lottery in 2024, Clark was their top pick. This came at a crucial moment, as Clark might have needed to return for a fifth year due to pandemic eligibility rules.
In this way, the right decision and timing changed everything for her.
Written by
Prit Chauhan
Edited by
Rudra Dubey