Cailtlin Clark is one of the most recognizable athletes in the U.S., and her impact on the court has grown the popularity of the WNBA.
Clark is easily recognizable for her performances with the Indiana Fever in the WNBA. She is expected to be back by the start of the 2026 WNBA season after missing the rest of the 2025 season since July due to injuries.
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Despite her injury, the WNBA superstar remains recognized by many sports fans, and with the WNBA season over, Clark has been seen at other sporting events like NFL games.
With Clark inspiring a new generation of young girls getting into sports like basketball, the Indiana Fever star spoke about women athletes who inspired her to become the player she is, and her answer shocked many as she mentioned a USWNT soccer legend.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on during a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun on July 15, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Clark praised WNBA legend Maya Moore as her inspiration to play basketball at a high level, and she reveals that Moore was her favorite basketball player growing up.
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In an interview with Glamour and Eli Lilly and Company, Clark named two women athletes who inspired and while naming a former WNBA player was expected, Clark naming former USWNT star Mia Hamm was not.
Women’s U.S. Soccer’s Impact on WNBA Star Caitlin Clark
Clark was not inspired by Mia Hamm but the USWNT as a whole. Despite being completely different sports, Clark suggests that U.S. Women’s Soccer was influential for female athletes in other sports like basketball.
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Clark suggests that the former USWNT in the 90s was important for women in general due to the spirit of the team that brought people together.
Clark said, “What USA soccer did for not only female athletes, but women in general…How much they brought people together. That’s just been her [Mia Hamm] ability to really inspire people. To give back.”
This high praise of Mia Hamm by Clark suggests how impactful the former USWNT players are to women athletes like the WNBA stars like Clark today.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the Soccer section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
