Before her appearance at this week’s LPGA Pro-Am in Florida, Caitlin Clark shared insights into why she chose basketball over other sports, like golf. "When I got into high school, I knew basketball was my future. I loved it, and I wanted to practice it," Clark explained. "It wasn’t just about playing. I wanted to improve, to spend time working on my game, and that was what really set basketball apart from the other sports I played."

Clark revealed that while she enjoyed soccer and other sports with friends, her approach to basketball was on a different level. Unlike other sports, where she simply had fun, basketball drove her to set higher standards. "I was really competitive, but I wasn’t going the extra mile to be better than everyone else in those other sports," she admitted. "With basketball, I loved every moment of practice and the hard work, which is not something everyone loves to do."

Her dedication was clear even in high school, where, as a varsity soccer player, she would lift weights and practice her jump shot before soccer games. This intense devotion sometimes baffled her soccer teammates, who couldn’t quite understand her pre-game routines. "[My teammates] couldn’t believe I was doing that," she said, laughing.

Ultimately, her passion for basketball led her to leave other sports behind. "I had to give up soccer, even though I loved it," Clark said. "I just had this drive to improve, and that was my sign basketball was my path."