Iowa’s Caitlin Clark Makes a Surprise Visit Back Home!

If the United States Women’s Olympic basketball team were re-selected today, Caitlin Clark would be in Paris preparing for the next matchup. However, instead, she has taken approximately 2 weeks off and spent some of that time in Iowa!

Although the Indiana Fever front office and coaching staff may not openly admit it, they are likely thrilled that Caitlin is getting an extended break from basketball. This break allows her to relax, recuperate, and come back rejuvenated for the second half of her WNBA rookie season. Hopefully, this time off will help Caitlin lead the Indiana Fever to a playoff spot after finishing last in the 2023 season.

During her break, Caitlin surprised 350 Des Moines area students and assisted in preparing them for the upcoming school year!

The Des Moines Register reported that 350 Des Moines area students received essential supplies for the school year and had a special afternoon with the Iowa basketball star. 300 students from Des Moines area schools and 50 students from parochial schools were selected by caseworkers to be part of this surprise event.

They gathered at North High School gym on Friday (August 2) and received backpacks filled with school supplies from the Caitlin Clark Foundation. Nike provided the backpacks, which were filled with notebooks, pens, and pencils from Hyvee. Gatorade also supplied free water bottles to the students.

The Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Ian Roberts, praised Caitlin for her talent and generosity, stating, “Caitlin Clark is not only one of the world’s most talented and best-known athletes, she is also a generous soul. She knows that when you succeed, you should give a little something back to help others succeed, and that’s exactly what she did today.”

Best Kept Secret in Iowa?

Caitlin may not walk around with a bell around her waist, but she is undoubtedly one of Iowa’s most beloved athletes. It is impressive that this surprise visit was kept confidential and did not leak to the public. It was uncertain until the last minute whether she would be able to attend the event.

Mary Coffin, President of the Caitlin Clark Foundation, explained to the Des Moines Register why Caitlin’s visit was kept a secret. She said, “It was kept very, very secret because we weren’t sure until the last minute whether she could come… We didn’t want to disappoint anybody. Caitlin was there. She interacted with the kids and she shot some basketballs with them. She loves it, she loves to be a part of it. It’s really her passion.”

Caitlin Clark also stressed the importance of school supplies for academic success, stating, “I know how fortunate I was to have a strong education and access to tools that allowed me to be successful in the classroom. School supplies are essential for every student’s learning and development, and the Caitlin Clark Foundation is grateful to our sponsors for their support in making this event possible.”

Caitlin made a significant impact on these 350 students, giving them a memorable day. She is not only a hero on the basketball court but also off the court.