Caitlin Clark has started the 2026 season in impeccable form after struggling with injuries for most of last year. In four games, she has averaged 24.3 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. The Indiana Fever are 2-2 in league play.
Between her on-court appearances, she is also keeping up with her off-court ventures. On Monday, she announced another new collaborative project for a good cause.
She is taking on a new project in partnership with the employee-owned supermarket chain Hy-Vee. The company has sponsored her since her days at Iowa. In fact, Hy-Vee was Clark’s first major brand sponsor.
“We’re proud to partner with @caitlinclark22 to help students and athletes thrive in our communities, on and off the court,” the official account wrote, announcing the news.
The initiative is built around the story of the Turner High Lady Bears basketball team, a program based in Kansas City. After failing to field a full roster, they turned things around by building a strong connection. The promotional video tells their story.
“We’re honored to donate $30,000 in funding to your school’s foundation, provide a steady supply of healthy snacks for all students for the next three years and supply new apparel for the team,” Hy-Vee wrote in a letter to them. “We can’t wait to see how far you’ll go.”
And the Turner High girls are not the only ones. Hy-Vee and Clark will seek out other schools in need and help them on their journey.
Caitlin Clark has Become a Major Name in Sports Community
Clark has built a massive brand around herself since getting drafted to the WNBA in 2024. She has single-handedly brought a lot of attention to the league, raising the average watching for her games to 1.2 million. Ticket sales and franchise valuations also surged.
She has become an influential figure in women’s sports. The proof of which is her jersey sale numbers. In the latest Fanatics jersey sales rankings, Clark placed second behind Stephen Curry and ahead of LeBron James and Luka Doncic, the most popular NBA stars.
Caitlin Clark Receives Rare Honor in Indiana
Clark will finally get her first taste of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24 and she will do it in a major role as grand marshal.
Since the Fever drafted her No. 1 overall in 2024, race weekend has conflicted with Indiana’s schedule, keeping her away from the event. This year, though, the timing works perfectly, with the Fever playing on Wednesday and then getting a six-day break.
“I’m honored to represent Gainbridge as Grand Marshal of the Indy 500,” Clark said in a statement to ESPN. “I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
As grand marshal, Clark will give the famous command, “Drivers, to your cars!” shortly before the start of the race, after the national anthem. The role is usually reserved for celebrities with Indiana ties and Clark fits perfectly with the state’s sports culture. Gainbridge, one of the race sponsors and the sponsor of the Fever’s arena, likely played a key role in bringing her to the event.
IndyCar and IMS president J. Douglas Boles said fans have been eager to share the day with her. Fever coach Stephanie White added, “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” calling it “one of the highest honors” in Indiana.
Caitlin Clark Makes Off-Court Announcement Amid WNBA Season