WNBA Star Caitlin Clark Ready to Show Her Prowess at Golf

Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts during the pro-am prior to the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., on July 5, 2023. Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Caitlin Clark is hitting the links after a successful WNBA season.

The star basketball player will compete in The Annika, an LPGA pro-am, on Nov. 13 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. The tournament is hosted by former professional golfer Annika Sorenstam, who won 72 LPGA tournaments and 10 majors over her career. Clark will also participate in a Women’s Leadership Summit at the club.

“I love golf so the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am for a tournament with a legend like Annika Sorenstam’s name on it is so exciting,” Clark said in a statement released by the LPGA “Gainbridge is a leader in supporting women’s sports and that’s clear through their commitment to me, this event, Billie Jean King, and Parity Week.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the LPGA players on the driving range, being part of the Women’s Leadership Summit, and, of course, teeing it up in the pro-am with Annika.”

Clark is coming off a successful WNBA season, during which she was named Rookie of the Year and led the Indiana Fever to the playoffs. Along with Kamilla Cardoso (Chicago Sky), Leonie Fiebich (New York Liberty), Rickea Jackson (Los Angeles Sparks), and Angel Reese (Sky), Clark was also named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.

Clark started all 40 games over the regular season, breaking the league’s scoring record with 769 points, surpassing the previous mark set by Seimone Augustus, who scored 744 points in 34 games in 2006. Clark also set the WNBA single-season assist record at 337.

Clark was a fan favorite and received the most All-Star Game votes in WNBA history with 700,735. She was also the first player in league history to earn WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month honors in the same month.

The Fever set the WNBA attendance record with more than 300,000 fans, with Clark as the starting guard.

Clark entered the WNBA to much fanfare after a record-breaking college career at the University of Iowa. She finished as the top scorer in the history of men’s and women’s college basketball with 3,951 points. Clark was also a two-time NCAA women’s basketball Player of the Year.

During her career at Iowa, Clark finished with the highest career scoring average (28.4) in Division I history, surpassing Patricia Hoskins of Mississippi Valley State. The Hawkeyes retired her No. 22 jersey number, making her the third player in program history to receive that honor.

Now, Clark is looking to show that she is also a good golfer. She joked this offseason that she would like to play pro golf someday.

She will certainly be a huge draw for The Annika, which will feature 120 golfers competing for a share of the $3.25 million purse.

“I have been following Caitlin’s career during college and now on the WNBA stage, and what she is doing to bring attention to women’s sports both on and off the court is outstanding,” Sorenstam said in a statement. “I’m excited to meet Caitlin and for her to join us at Pelican Golf Club in November in what will be an exciting week for women’s sports.”