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Epic Athletes: Caitlin Clark
In this inspiring sports biography of Caitlin Clark featuring eye-catching photographs, acclaimed journalist Dan Wetzel tells the incredible true story of one of the greatest women's college basketball players of all time, who is now a major talent in the WNBA.
With her shooting range, swagger, and play-making prowess, the electrifying Caitlin Clark became one of the greatest college basketball players of all time and helped skyrocket women’s basketball to a new level of popularity. Now in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, she’s poised to take professional basketball by storm as well.
This inspiring biography recaps Caitlin’s journey from multiple sport star growing up in West Des Moines, Iowa to becoming the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history, twice leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the national championship game, and being named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. It’s a story of dedication, hard work, competitiveness, and belief that has made her a barrier-breaking hero to people across America and beyond.
With her shooting range, swagger, and play-making prowess, the electrifying Caitlin Clark became one of the greatest college basketball players of all time and helped skyrocket women’s basketball to a new level of popularity. Now in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, she’s poised to take professional basketball by storm as well.
This inspiring biography recaps Caitlin’s journey from multiple sport star growing up in West Des Moines, Iowa to becoming the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history, twice leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the national championship game, and being named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. It’s a story of dedication, hard work, competitiveness, and belief that has made her a barrier-breaking hero to people across America and beyond.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published May 6, 2025
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6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 27, 2025
I received a free copy of, Epic Athletes: Caitlin Clark, by Dan Wetzel, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Caitlin Clark is an inspiring basketball player, and women for girls of all ages.I really enjoyed reading about Caitlin Clark.
February 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's for the ARC of this book!
This was the perfect book to read admist a day spend watching #22 be raised to the rafters. Even as someone who was living in Iowa City during the Caitlin Clark era, I learned some new facts from this book! I was fun to relive the wild last couple of years of Iowa basketball, and now Fever basketball. I'm just really happy to see CC growing the game and women getting more recognition, especially with children's books--it starts with valuing women young! I really enjoyed the inclusion of photos throughout the book, though this is mostly text-based. This would be a great book for a young basketball fan ages 8-12. There is a lot of references to basketball or tournament terminology, so if your kiddo loves the game but doesn't quite know the rules yet, this may be better as a read aloud. Still, a wonderful little biography about CC's childhood and career so far.
This was the perfect book to read admist a day spend watching #22 be raised to the rafters. Even as someone who was living in Iowa City during the Caitlin Clark era, I learned some new facts from this book! I was fun to relive the wild last couple of years of Iowa basketball, and now Fever basketball. I'm just really happy to see CC growing the game and women getting more recognition, especially with children's books--it starts with valuing women young! I really enjoyed the inclusion of photos throughout the book, though this is mostly text-based. This would be a great book for a young basketball fan ages 8-12. There is a lot of references to basketball or tournament terminology, so if your kiddo loves the game but doesn't quite know the rules yet, this may be better as a read aloud. Still, a wonderful little biography about CC's childhood and career so far.
January 19, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Just as he did in Kevin Durrant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Wetzel does an outstanding job at delving into the history of this extraordinary young player who has captured the public's interest. Starting from a young age, Clark was encouraged to do multiple sports, including soccer, by her supportive parents who thought it was better to not specialize in one sport. Basketball seemed to click best, and Clark certainly excelled in high school and college, and is now playing with the Indiana Fever team of the WNBA. Information is factual and balanced, and there is even a very brief mention of the momentary drama with player Angel Reese. Family photos are included.
I bought several of these Wetzel titles even though my collection development policy for biographies is generally to wait until the person depicted has passed away. This was motivated by the 1980s biography of Michael Jackson that I weeded from the shelves. Since several of the players were at the end of their careers, it felt like they were reasonable purchases that wouldn't date too badly. Some of the titles have circulated better than others. Since Clark is just beginning her career, and I haven't had any students express interest in her (I had dozens of girls begging for Taylor Swift bios, so I buckled), I may not purchase this. If I were in a larger school or public library, this would be an excellent addition.
Just as he did in Kevin Durrant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Wetzel does an outstanding job at delving into the history of this extraordinary young player who has captured the public's interest. Starting from a young age, Clark was encouraged to do multiple sports, including soccer, by her supportive parents who thought it was better to not specialize in one sport. Basketball seemed to click best, and Clark certainly excelled in high school and college, and is now playing with the Indiana Fever team of the WNBA. Information is factual and balanced, and there is even a very brief mention of the momentary drama with player Angel Reese. Family photos are included.
I bought several of these Wetzel titles even though my collection development policy for biographies is generally to wait until the person depicted has passed away. This was motivated by the 1980s biography of Michael Jackson that I weeded from the shelves. Since several of the players were at the end of their careers, it felt like they were reasonable purchases that wouldn't date too badly. Some of the titles have circulated better than others. Since Clark is just beginning her career, and I haven't had any students express interest in her (I had dozens of girls begging for Taylor Swift bios, so I buckled), I may not purchase this. If I were in a larger school or public library, this would be an excellent addition.
September 23, 2025
As someone who’s followed Caitlin Clark’s rise in the world of basketball, I was excited to dive into this biography; and it did not disappoint. Caitlin has been an absolute game-changer; not just for women’s basketball, but for every young girl who's ever picked up a ball and dared to dream. Her electric energy, deep three-point shots, fierce competitiveness, and obvious love for the game have brought a whole new level of excitement and visibility to the sport. She’s not just a player; she’s a trailblazer, and her impact reaches far beyond the court.
This book does a fantastic job capturing her journey; from her grounded, down-to-earth childhood and multi-sport beginnings to her record-breaking college career and thrilling entry into the WNBA. It's vibrant, inspiring, and absolutely packed with amazing stats, powerful quotes, eye-catching photos, and fun facts that both new and longtime fans will love.
What really stood out to me was how much I learned about her early athletic life; things I hadn’t known before; and how those experiences shaped her into the powerhouse she is today. It gave me an even deeper appreciation for her work ethic, passion, and influence.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who loves basketball; admires strong female athletes; or just wants an uplifting and exciting story. Caitlin Clark is the real deal; and this biography captures her spirit beautifully.
A huge thanks to NetGalley, the author & the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.
This book does a fantastic job capturing her journey; from her grounded, down-to-earth childhood and multi-sport beginnings to her record-breaking college career and thrilling entry into the WNBA. It's vibrant, inspiring, and absolutely packed with amazing stats, powerful quotes, eye-catching photos, and fun facts that both new and longtime fans will love.
What really stood out to me was how much I learned about her early athletic life; things I hadn’t known before; and how those experiences shaped her into the powerhouse she is today. It gave me an even deeper appreciation for her work ethic, passion, and influence.
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who loves basketball; admires strong female athletes; or just wants an uplifting and exciting story. Caitlin Clark is the real deal; and this biography captures her spirit beautifully.
A huge thanks to NetGalley, the author & the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.
April 27, 2025
This brief biography covers the early life and basketball experiences to date of Caitlin Clark. Beginning with her down-to-earth childhood and ending with her being drafted into the WNBA, this book is jam packed with stats, quotes, pictures, and general basketball knowledge for people of all ages.
This book was quite appealing to me, as I am a huge Michigan Women's Basketball fan and sat by and watched Caitlin Clark take over the Big Ten for the 4 years she played at Iowa. So the first picture in the book showing Caitlin taking the points record on a shot over Laila Phelia was hard to see and read about again. But in all honesty, I was watching and cheering for Clark on that one shot.
After reading this book, I realized that I did not know much about Clark outside of her amazing skills on the basketball court. It was an interesting read to understand how multi-talented she is, as well as her motivations that got her to choose Iowa. As an avid women's basketball fan, I very much enjoyed this biography and look forward to continuing to follow Caitlin Clark's future in the WNBA and life in general.
This book was quite appealing to me, as I am a huge Michigan Women's Basketball fan and sat by and watched Caitlin Clark take over the Big Ten for the 4 years she played at Iowa. So the first picture in the book showing Caitlin taking the points record on a shot over Laila Phelia was hard to see and read about again. But in all honesty, I was watching and cheering for Clark on that one shot.
After reading this book, I realized that I did not know much about Clark outside of her amazing skills on the basketball court. It was an interesting read to understand how multi-talented she is, as well as her motivations that got her to choose Iowa. As an avid women's basketball fan, I very much enjoyed this biography and look forward to continuing to follow Caitlin Clark's future in the WNBA and life in general.
August 17, 2025
Great insight to Caitlin Clark as a person, not just an athlete. Well-researched with interviews, televised appearances, and games. Follows typical biography format with plenty of images to support the text.
July 26, 2025
For your friends with insomnia
August 31, 2025
I had to read it before giving it to my Caitlin-crazed niece. A nice book for upper elementary readers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews