As a young aspiring basketball player, meeting one of your idols is a dream come true. For Caitlin Clark, that dream became a reality when she met the legendary Maya Moore for the first time as a kid. The impact of that encounter has stayed with Clark throughout her basketball journey, shaping her into the talented player she is today.
Caitlin Clark, a star in women’s basketball, is no stranger to success on the court. With her exceptional skills and competitive spirit, she has garnered attention and accolades for her performances. But it was her encounter with Maya Moore that left a lasting impression on her, inspiring her to aim for greatness in the sport.
Meeting Maya Moore, a four-time WNBA champion, was a pivotal moment for Clark. As a young fan, she admired Moore not only for her skills on the court but also for her leadership and dedication to the game. Clark recalls being in awe of Moore’s presence and feeling inspired by her passion for basketball.
The Indiana Fever took on the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday night in what will be a memorable moment for WNBA legend, Maya Moore. The former Lynx superstar is having her jersey retired and hung in the rafters. It just so happens that Caitlin Clark of the Fever grew up idolizing Moore throughout her career.
Leading up to the contest, Moore was asked about allegedly meeting Clark as a child. The WNBA legend admits she doesn’t recall ever meeting Clark, as she met many children along the way. However, she does find it “cool” that one of those kids turned out to be Clark, per Fever team writer, Chloe Peterson.
“It’s really, really cool to think about how one of those kids turned out to be Caitlin Clark.”
Clark originally met Moore when she was just 10-years old. Moore signed her shirt during that meeting. The Fever star has stated multiple times that Moore is one of her basketball idols and models her game after the former Lynx star. So, it’s a cool full-circle moment that Clark gets to play Minnesota on the night they’re retiring Moore’s jersey.
Moore is now retired from the game but is considered a legend in the WNBA. She played from 2011 to 2018 and proved to be a superstar from the jump. Moore ended her career averaging 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. She also shot an impressive 45.3 field goal percentage and was 38.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Caitlin Clark’s meeting with Maya Moore as a kid was a pivotal moment in her basketball journey, shaping her as a player and a person. The encounter with her childhood hero inspired Clark to pursue her dreams relentlessly and never lose sight of the values that define true greatness on and off the court. True to her idol, Clark continues to inspire young athletes everywhere with her talent, passion, and unwavering dedication to the game she loves.
Flip to the next page to watch Maya Moore speak about hugging Caitlin Clark when she was a kid…
