Caitlin Clark sat quietly in her hotel room, staring out at the city skyline. The idea had struck her during a conversation with a teammate about life outside the basketball court. What would it be like to step into the shoes of someone completely unrecognizable? To see how people treated someone who wasn’t famous, someone who seemed to have nothing? The thought lingered, growing into an irresistible challenge.
Weeks later, Caitlin decided to act on it. On a chilly Thursday evening, she finalized her plan. Her disguise was simple but effective: secondhand clothing from a local thrift store, a worn hoodie, sneakers that had seen better days, a cap, and sunglasses to conceal her identity. The transformation was startling; Caitlin Clark, the basketball sensation, now looked like any young woman struggling to get by.
Her destination was carefully chosen: The Copper Elm, a high-end restaurant in the heart of Chicago known for its exclusivity and well-heeled clientele. It was the perfect place to test her theory about how people treat others based on appearances.
As Caitlin entered the restaurant, the ambiance hit her immediately. The low hum of conversation mingled with the clinking of glasses and the faint aroma of truffle oil. Heads turned briefly in her direction, but unlike the usual recognition she was accustomed to, these glances carried judgment.
“Table for one, please,” Caitlin said softly to the hostess, who hesitated, her eyes flicking to Caitlin’s worn attire. “We’re fully booked tonight,” the hostess replied, her voice polite but clipped.
Before Caitlin could respond, a young server named Sophia stepped forward. “I can see her,” Sophia said, her voice steady but kind. The room went silent as patrons glanced up from their menus, surprised by the confrontation.
Sophia led Caitlin to a small table near the kitchen door. “Thank you,” Caitlin said, her voice sincere. As she began eating, she observed the restaurant staff and the patrons around her. Whispers about her attire filled the air, and Caitlin felt the weight of their judgment.
After finishing her meal, Caitlin stood and walked toward the center of the restaurant. “I need to say something,” she announced, her voice steady. “Tonight, I came here not as the basketball player you know, but as someone you wouldn’t give a second glance to. I wanted to see how people treat someone who appears to have nothing.”
The room fell silent, and Caitlin continued, “I saw judgment and disdain, but one person chose to treat me with kindness.” She gestured to Sophia, who stood nearby, her face flushed with surprise.
Caitlin’s words resonated throughout the restaurant, prompting a wave of introspection among the patrons. “Let this be a reminder,” she concluded, “that everyone deserves respect, no matter their circumstances.”
As Caitlin left the restaurant, she felt a sense of accomplishment. Her experiment had revealed the truth about human nature, and she hoped it would inspire others to choose kindness over judgment.
‘Written in 1971’: Columnist apologises after awkward interaction with Caitlin Clark
A columnist for the Indianapolis Star has apologised after an uncomfortable interaction with Caitlin Clark at a press conference on Wednesday.
Gregg Doyel was selected to ask a question at Clark’s introductory news conference with the Indiana Fever, who selected her No 1 overall in Monday’s WNBA draft. Before Doyel asked his question he made a heart sign with his hands, a gesture that Clark was known for during her record-breaking college career with Iowa.
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Clark asked Doyel if he liked the sign, to which Doyel replied: “I like that you’re here.” Clark said she flashes the sign at her family after every game. Doyel replied: “OK, well start doing that to me and we’ll get along just fine.” Clark did not respond to the comment.
Journalists and fans were quick to criticise Doyel on social media.
Veteran ESPN writer Don Van Natta Jr wrote on X that “this sounds like a hack Hollywood screenwriter’s idea of a sportswriter’s cool banter. Written in 1971.”
Dana O’Neil, a senior writer at The Athletic, was one of a number of people who wondered if Doyel would have used the same line on an NBA player. “Sometimes life isn’t hard,” she wrote on X. “If, for example, as a professional, ethical, impartial reporter it would not occur to you make a heart at, say, Victor Wembanyama, don’t make one at Caitlin Clark.”
Doyel later apologised on X and then in a column for the Star. He said he was known for his awkward interactions with male and female athletes but that was no excuse. Doyel wrote: “I was … convinced I was harmless and right, when a woman I deeply respect told me, ‘Caitlin Clark is a young woman, and you don’t talk to a young woman the same as you would a young man.’ And my heart dropped. Because now I saw it: After years of being so sure I was on the right side of these arguments, I was now on the wrong side, and for the oldest reason known to man and woman: Ignorance.”
Clark broke a host of scoring records during her college career with Iowa and this year helped the NCAA women’s final, where the Hawkeyes played South Carolina, draw in more viewers than the men’s championship game.
The Athletic reported on Wednesday that Clark is nearing an eight-figure endorsement deal with Nike that will include a signature shoe.
