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THE BLUEPRINT:
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WNBA player Caitlin Clark spoke at the Long Island Association fall luncheon.
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More than 700 community and business leaders attended the event.
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Clark discussed focus, leadership, and challenges in professional sports.
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She highlighted her foundation’s work supporting youth and communities.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark made her first visit to Long Island on Wednesday, speaking before more than 700 local leaders at the Long Island Association’s annual fall luncheon at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
They were there to glean insights from the 23-year-old Indiana Fever guard, who spoke about basketball, leadership, coaching and more.
In a one-on-one conversation with Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association (LIA), Clark spoke about the benefits of focus and passion for the game.
“I really love my craft, and I love getting better at it,” she said, adding that not everyone shares the same passion for putting in the hours at the gym to excel.
Clark holds the distinction of being the youngest and first female professional athlete to address the LIA’s fall luncheon, an event typically featuring political leaders, authors or athletes.
On Wednesday, LIA Chair Larry Waldman told the crowd that this year the organization is taking “a break from politics,” which won applause in the room.
Cohen has described Clark as a “transformational figure” in sports who “has in many ways transcended the sport of women’s basketball, and she’s changed the economics of the league.”
In Woodbury on Wednesday, Clark said that she considers New York a top place to play basketball, adding that the crowd and support here are “really fun.”
Still, she said there are challenges that sports fans may never see. For example, injuries and setbacks bring disappointment, she said. But those experiences have helped her “become a better teammate,” she added.
She emphasized the importance of showing up for teammates, saying, that often “those are the teams that win at the end of the day.”
A businesswoman and philanthropist, Clark said earning her degree in marketing at the University of Iowa help her in these roles. Now with partnerships with such companies as Nike and Gatorade, Clark stressed the importance of collaborating with “brands that align with who I am.”
Asked by Cohen if she had any advice for some of the university leaders at the luncheon about working with student athletes, Clark pointed out that the athletes are typically 22 years old and younger who are beginning to find their footing. Support from coaches and university leaders can help young athletes navigate their paths, she said.
Philanthropy through the Caitlin Clark Foundation, Clark said, is a highlight for her. The nonprofit aims to “uplift and improve the lives of youth and their communities through education, nutrition and sport,” according to the foundation. The organization has installed athletic courts in Iowa and Indianapolis for kids to play sports, orchestrated backpack giveaways and more.
Giving back, she said, was part of her upbringing.
Clark often steered the conversation back to her family, who kept her grounded as a young athlete.
She offered advice to young athletes today.
“Just enjoy it,” she said.
Pointing out that it wasn’t that long ago since she was a high school athlete, she reflected on those days, calling them “some of my best memories.”
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Adina Genn
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