Indiana Fever’s rising star Caitlin Clark may be turning heads in the WNBA with her talent and tenacity, but her fire on the court appears to be a family trait — one that runs straight through her father, Brent Clark.
During her rookie season, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year showed plenty of grit and emotional intensity, picking up six technical fouls — just one shy of an automatic suspension. And according to her dad, that passion doesn’t just come from nowhere.
“I See a Lot of Me in Her”: Brent Clark Reflects on Shared Competitive Edge
In an interview during Caitlin’s first year in the league, Brent Clark opened up about his own playing days and how his emotions often ran high.
“I was a pretty emotional player,” Brent recalled. “I even recall fights in a couple of games. I wasn’t the instigator, but the competitive juices just flow. Caitlin and I see a lot of me in her in that way, but I think she does a much better job of controlling her emotion.”
While acknowledging their similarities, Brent admitted Caitlin has the edge when it comes to maturity and composure. “She’s got fire, but she has the presence of mind not to react when someone says something or does something to her. I wish I had a little bit more of that maturity when I was at Simpson,” he added.
Brent Clark Sounds Off on Officiating in the WNBA
Fast forward to May 4, 2025, and Caitlin was back on the court — this time for a preseason game against Brazil in Iowa City. Watching from the sidelines, Brent Clark was once again in the spotlight, this time sharing his thoughts on what he’s learned as a first-time WNBA parent.
In a live sideline interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Brent offered an honest take on the state of officiating across the league.
“Well, I think there’s a lot of room for improvement there, I think particularly in the officiating,” he said. “I've kind of noticed a little bit of a difference \[on Sunday], it looks like they’re really officiating the game like it should be officiated. If you make the game more fluid, people are going to like the product even more than it is right now.”
No Complaints After Dominant Win
While Caitlin often voiced frustration with officiating during her first WNBA season, she had little to gripe about following the Fever’s dominant 108-44 preseason win over Brazil. It was a performance that showed both her growth and her team’s potential heading into the 2025 campaign.
Whether it’s on the court or from the stands, the Clark family’s competitive fire continues to shine. With Caitlin leading the charge and Brent offering support (and the occasional candid commentary), the father-daughter duo is fast becoming one of the most compelling storylines in women’s basketball.