Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever teammates surprise her with graduation celebration after missing Iowa ceremony

Former Iowa star Caitlin Clark is one of the busiest athletes on the planet. As the new face of the WNBA, the sharpshooter is not only busy getting acclimated to the new league, but also worrying about endorsements, media obligations, and numerous other commitments that take up her time. She’s been so busy that she had to miss her graduation ceremony at Iowa. And on Sunday evening, her Indiana Fever teammates decided to bring the ceremony to Clark.

Caitlin Clark was unable to attend her @uiowa graduation yesterday so the team surprised her with a "Certificate of Graduation" before training camp today 📃 🎓 pic.twitter.com/oHPLruveFh

— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) May 13, 2024

Caitlin Clark came close to going to Notre Dame

Caitlin Clark made a landmark decision before college that apparently not many knew about. The Indiana Fever rookie originally committed to Notre Dame before flipping to Iowa.

Going to a historically good program would’ve been logical of course. No one would’ve blamed Clark if she suited up for the Fighting Irish.

Growing up, it seemed ideal for Clark to go to South Bend, Indiana.

“It’s a lot of pressure having to choose and decide where you’re going to spend four years of your life. We’re Catholic and every person, like, idolizes Notre Dame,” Clark said on ABC’s Full Court Press. “Like, that’s just what you do. I told Muffet McGraw, one of the greatest coaches of all-time, that I’m gonna play for her.”

But then, Clark felt something that wasn’t right. She had to make a big decision that changed the trajectory of her career.

“I just knew like — something wasn’t sitting right with me,” Clark said. “So, I tell my parents and I’m like, ‘I think I’m gonna switch to Iowa.’ Which was hard, like, I was scared. I’m 17 years old and now I have to call Coach McGraw and tell her that I’m not coming. I remember sitting in my bed and I’m like sweating. I’m like, ‘Oh, this is so bad.’ But I really loved the idea of being close to home.”

Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder recalled when she heard her phone ring and it was Clark telling her the news.

“I was at a restaurant eating with my husband,” Bluder said. “When she called, I stepped outside to take the phone call. I tried to hold it down a little bit, but then I went back in and we ordered a bottle of champagne.”

Clark only led Iowa to back-to-back national title games and became the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader. No big deal. She was also the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

ESPN recently announced (per The Hollywood Reporter) that Tuesday’s (May 14) WNBA tip-off games, including Clark’s debut with the Indiana Fever, will stream live on Disney+. The games will also be available on ESPN+ and ESPN2.

Clark is doing well in the preseason. Most recently, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star led the Fever with 21 points in the loss against the Dallas Wings.

On3’s Nick Kosko also contributed to this article.