Generational superstar Caitlin Clark wins Time Magazine Athlete of the Year

Time Magazine bestowed its ultimate honor onto Caitlin Clark in December 2024, by making her Athlete of the Year. It put the finishing touch on what has been a sensational year.

It's pretty easy to tell that Caitlin Clark is one of one when it comes to basketball talents. Former NBA coach Brendan Suhr thinks that she has elite abilities that no one in the NBA or WNBA has ever displayed at this level.

While speaking with new Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White on his podcast, Suhr said, "I've never seen any NBA player that can throw the ball ahead on the break better than her, anyone." Suhr was an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons when they won back to back NBA titles in 1989 and 1990.

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Suhr reminisced about his days coaching Pistons legend Isiah Thomas, and sees a lot of Thomas in Clark. He continued, "I also think, that like a lot of my great point guards, Hall of Famers, she could play off the ball so well because she knows how to move without the ball--and it wouldn't tire her out." Suhr said they used to use Thomas in the same way.

Women's basketball fans have seen Caitlin Clark ascend to astronomical heights, from her college days at the University of Iowa to the WNBA.

The first rookie to reach 100 three-pointers, leading the Indiana Fever to a .500 record for the first time since 2019, and increasing attendances week on week in the WNBA. Caitlin Clark has been nothing short of exceptional in her first season in the pros.

Former WNBA player and current ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said of Clark, "We've never seen a woman play like this."

Clark has lifted the spotlight and attention paid to women's basketball for the last couple of years, which has allowed the sport to thrive. We'll take a closer look at what Clark makes the special player that she is, and what has made her the rising tide that's lifted all boats. All upcoming statistics are sourced from Basketball Reference.

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Caitlin Clark's supreme skills as a basketball player is her three point shooting. Yahoo Sports wrote about Clark passing Stephen Curry's single-season record for all-time three pointers made in the NCAA.

Clark is also the NCAA's all-time leading scorer in college basketball history, regardless of gender. According to the Big 10's website, she's the first Division I player to log over 3,600 points, 1,000 assists and over 850 rebounds in a career.

It's not just the volume with which Caitlin Clark drains three pointers—it's the distance with which she's making them that has fans in awe.

According to CBB Analytics, Clark made over 80 shots from over 25 feet in her college basketball career. That range is longer than the NBA three point line, which is 23 feet.

In August 2024, Sports Illustrated wrote that Clark is actually shooting more accurately from greater distances away in the WNBA than her attempts that come closer to the basket. The piece highlights that Clark is actually more prolific from 25–29 feet away than she is from 20–24 feet from the hoop.

Much like Stephen Curry, Caitlin Clark has become extremely popular with children during her rise to prominence. Curry and Clark's superhuman shooting tend to grab kids' attention, and many little girls (and boys) want to emulate her style.

High school basketball coach Sue Phillips has seen a spike in children looking to improve their outside shot because of the Clark phenomenon. She told CBS News, "I can tell you we do have more kids willing to work on their skill set to build on that. I do see that there's more motivation, based on what they're seeing on social media and TV."

Clark's ability to shoot from near halfcourt puts defenses in a predicament, as opponents need to pick her up far away from the basket. This allows the court to be more spaced out, which Clark takes advantage of with her tremendous passing ability.

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Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve told the Indianapolis Star about Clark, "The best thing she does that young players don't do is, she plays with incredible pace. Pace will get you really, really far. Pace and passing are her greatest things... Pace and passing is what makes her exceptional, in my mind."

It can be tempting for someone with Clark's sensational shooting ability to hoist attempts from great distances. However, she appears to realize that her team is most successful when other players have the confidence to take over offensively thanks to her savvy passing.

Clark isn't just a one-trick pony as an offensive player. She also isn't afraid to crash the glass to secure offensive or defensive rebounds. The latter is frightening to opposing teams as she can pick up a defensive board on one end and start a fast break immediately.

"I think we're really good when I can get the ball off the glass and just go in transition and find my teammates and set them up," Clark told Sports Illustrated.

Clark may not be the strongest woman in the WNBA, but she pays a lot of attention to exercise that allows her to be the best version of herself. The New York Times says that she focuses on elite conditioning, aerobic work and plyometrics in order to give her the fast-twitch ability to get a shot off.

Just Women's Sports has also outlined Clark's training regimen, as she doesn't take any shortcuts to greatness. She does conditioning, ball-handling drills, and 100 shots each from three-point land, mid-range and the foul line during the offseason.

Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post perhaps put Clark's brilliance in the most effective, succinct way. He wrote, "she makes the sport better. Not her sport. Not women's basketball. The sport. Basketball. Period."

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Vaccaro's comments ring true when considering the efforts that Unrivaled, a new three on three women's basketball league, poured into recruiting Clark. They wanted her to participate in a 10-week exhibition during the WNBA offseason, and offered her a minimum of $1 million to do so. Clark ultimately declined, but the price tag shows just how serious the pursuit was.