WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark appears in Kentucky at the 2025 Excellence in Leadership Series

CUMBERLAND, Ky. (FOX 56) — A big crowd turned out at the University of the Cumberlands on Tuesday to hear from WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark as part of this year’s Excellence in Leadership Series.

Clark is known for making impossible shots look easy, inspiring others while living out her dream, like another Caitlin, who has had obstacles to overcome in life and basketball.

“I was diagnosed with epilepsy, ADHD, and I am permanently blind in my left eye,” Caitlin Roy said.

Roy was able to meet Clark before the event started. She said it was everything she could dream of.

“How she got brought up and where she came from, and what I will take from it is just more inspiration to be like her,” Roy said.

The event focused on three categories: basketball, of course, leadership, and community involvement.

Clark has embodied all three, currently as a star guard on the WNBA team Indiana Fever, through her leadership as a player; she said, building relationships is how she is able to be a leader, and she has given back to her community through the Caitlin Clark Foundation.

At just 23 years old, when asked how she handles the bright lights, Clark said, “I always try to remind myself, like, I love this game; this is always what I had fun doing ever since I was a young girl.”

“The only people that really matter are the people that are inside your locker room; they are going to have your best interest at heart; they are going to have your back every single day,” Clark continued.

One of the most excited people in the audience was Leighton Breeding. She said the speech gave her the energy to continue striving to achieve her basketball goals.

“I like how she plays basketball, just like me,” Leighton said.

Her older sister, Addalyn, said the excitement was no surprise as she loves Caitlin Clark, “probably more than she loves me, probably, but I understand.”

Both sisters went to the event with their school; students and players said this opportunity is one they will never forget.

“The reason why I like her is because I like how she plays basketball and how she goes in between the legs and stuff, and it just really inspires me to play more basketball,” Piper Thorpe said.

While Clark enters her second year in the WNBA, she has much to look forward to; she said, looking ahead in the long run, she plans to continue her involvement in athletics.

“Whether that’s a GM in a front office or being involved in some sports organization, I’m not sure about coaching, but we will see,” Clark said.

Fans said their goal was to walk away with motivation and even some Clark memorabilia.

“Hopefully, I can learn things from the speech and stuff, and just, I’d like to make it to where she is, be more like her; an autograph and picture would be nice too, though,” said Addalyn.

“There are very few people that can contain a lot of the cheap shots that you get shot at you and still turn that into focus to try to be a better player instead of retaliating. How do you do that?” asked University President Dr. Larry Cockrum, who served as the event moderator.

“Well, I think it’s the second person that always gets caught… but also like, I just want to beat them, and the best way to do that is be quiet and to be competitive and to show everything with your game and the time you put in to be great,” Clark responded.

“Moments like that, if your opponent gets competitive with you, get competitive right back; like, believe in yourself, and more than anything, winning is what’s going to make people upset, so just win; that is simply how I view it,” Clark continued.

Clark and the Indiana Fever will begin their season on May 17.