What kind of childhood would allow a girl to become a star basketball player? The one Caitlin Clark had with her cousins, apparently. The WNBA star spoke this week with Sue Bird on the “Bird’s Eye View” podcast about her childhood growing up with several older male cousins.
According to Clark, she always wanted to be around her boy cousins, and that helped her develop character as a child:
“I always was stuck with all the boy cousins, and at family holidays, we would always be playing games. We were always out in the front driveway shooting hoops, even Easter egg hunts on Easter. Somehow, I would always end up with the least amount of eggs, and I would be crying. I would be in tears, and I would go crying to my mom, and my mom would always be like, ‘I’m not helping you. You have to figure out a way to hold your own.’
“I was that annoying little cousin that always wanted to hang out with the older cousins and the boys, and honestly, I kind of just got bullied. But they’re now my biggest fans. They come to all my games, and they’re honestly my best friends.”
Generating this kind of character early on can be a powerful tool for elite athletes like Caitlin Clark, as rarely are things handed out to anyone in professional sports. Her ability to stand back up and be resilient is something this season is testing, as she continues to deal with a recurring groin injury that has kept her from the court for almost half of the games played so far.
Diana Taurasi Believes The Indiana Fever Will Be Dangerous Once Caitlin Clark Returns
Some pundits have floated the idea that the Indiana Fever is better off without Caitlin Clark. The idea comes from the fact that the Fever have won six out of their last nine games without Clark and that somehow the team plays more smoothly without her.
Not Diana Taurasi, though. The former Phoenix Mercury star, knows better. Speaking with USA Today Sports this week, Taurasi said the following about Clark and the Fever:
“I would not want to play the Indiana Fever in the playoffs, especially with a healthy Caitlin. I mean, that building… I got a little taste of it last year. Someone who can really change the game in a couple of moments like she can… she could be quiet for 10 minutes and then it’s four threes, and the game’s out of reach.” (11:44)
The Mercury just handed the Fever their first defeat in seven games, beating them 95-60 on Thursday night. It was Indiana’s first defeat since July 24.
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