Two Legends, Different Eras: How Caitlin Clark and Annika Sorenstam Are Changing Women’s Sports
At 22, Caitlin Clark is already doing things nobody’s seen before in women’s basketball. That’s the same age Annika Sorenstam was when she started her journey to becoming one of golf’s greatest players.
Name
Events
Top 10
Money
Now these two superstars are sharing the stage at The Annika Women’s Leadership Summit, bringing together two generations of game-changers in women’s sports.
Clark’s 2024 has been nothing short of spectacular. She led Iowa to another NCAA championship game, went first overall in the WNBA draft, and then took the pro league by storm.
In just her rookie season, she shattered records. She dished out 19 assists in a single game – a WNBA record. She became the first rookie ever to record a triple-double. And yes, she walked away with Rookie of the Year honors.
But here’s what’s really interesting: Neither Clark nor Sorenstam set out to be trailblazers. They just wanted to be the best at what they loved.
“I wanted to practice, and I think that’s what was different,” Clark said at The Annika, an LPGA event. “I wanted to get better at it. I wanted to spend time working on my game.”
For Clark, basketball stood out from all the other sports she tried – including golf. While she played everything she could growing up, there was something special about basketball that made her want to put in the extra hours.
Sorenstam’s path was similar, just in a different era and different sport. Growing up in Sweden, she tried everything from skiing to tennis, inspired by Swedish legend Bjorn Borg.
But golf captured her heart.
“Whether you work on your driving or your irons or putting… everything is so different,” Sorenstam explained. “And I just love the challenge of trying to hit it.”
What’s remarkable is how humble both stars remain despite their massive success. Clark jokes about “praying to break 100” on the golf course, while Sorenstam laughs about her non-existent three-point shot.
“Obviously, life has changed a lot, but I try to live in the same exact manner that I did when I first showed up to college,” Clark said. “For me, I feel like I am living in a dream.”
Both women light up when talking about inspiring the next generation.
“That’s the reason that you play,” Clark said. “It’s not because of the wins and the points you score; it’s the amount of joy that you can bring people and the young girls that will one day grow up to hopefully be whatever they want to be.”
Sorenstam, who retired 16 years ago after winning 97 professional tournaments and 10 majors, puts it perfectly when talking about Clark’s future:
“She’s just teed off on hole one or two. I’ve made the turn already.”
With women’s sports experiencing unprecedented growth, it’s exciting to think about what Clark might achieve in the next 30 years – and who she’ll inspire along the way.
