Caitlin Clark was momentarily speechless when the Indiana Fever coaching staff and front office wished her a happy birthday on Wednesday.
Wearing the team’s colors and wrapped in Gatorade towels after her workout, Clark walked into a pleasant surprise when she entered the weight room in their training facility.
The 23-year-old sat her belongings down and walked toward a cheerful rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ from the staff, with a big smile on her face.
Clark smiled through the wholesome gesture and jokingly orchestrated the singing at one point as they lit a cake for her. They also had number 23 balloons, signifying the age she turned.
‘Thank you, you didn’t have to do that,’ Clark said after the cheers settled down and the candles were blown. ‘Were you guys waiting for me?’
‘I was just sitting up there,’ she continued. One of the staff members then asked Clark if she made a wish.
The Indiana Fever staff and front office surprised superstar Caitlin Clark on her 23rd birthday
Clark posed with the Indy Ignite roster after their 3-0 sweep over the Grand Rapids Rise
‘I did. Can’t tell though,’ the WNBA Rookie of the Year replied.
Clark has been enjoying her offseason following a monumental rookie campaign in Indiana.
Upon her entry, Clark spearheaded a massive spike in the WNBA’s viewership and attendance numbers. Furthermore, she stacked records on the court which led her to place fourth in MVP voting.
The No 1 draft pick led Indiana to their first playoff appearance since 2016 despite getting swept by the Connecticut Sun in the opening round.
After waving off the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league for some downtime, Clark has been spotted at several sporting events.
On January 16, Clark and her boyfriend Connor McCaffery enjoyed courtside seats to the professional women’s volleyball game between the Indy Ignite and the Grand Rapids Rise. The Ignite swept the opposition in front of the Fever Star.
During the NFL’s divisional playoffs, Clark was seen next to Taylor Swift and Ed Kelce in the suite as the Kansas City Chiefs cruised past the Houston Texans to advance to the AFC title game.
Clark and the Fever will return to WNBA action on May 17 when they face Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky.
