Caitlin Clark’s third WNBA season ended in disappointment after the Indiana Fever fell to the Las Vegas Aces in the playoffs, bringing another championship pursuit to a close. But while the Fever star had to put that chapter behind her, she has found another way to connect with the next generation of basketball fans. And the inspiration behind her latest off-court project comes from a simple reminder that has stayed with her since childhood.
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During her Friday appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Clark opened up about her new children’s book, EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams, and the personal story that inspired it. The conversation turned to a mirror in her childhood home that carries a quote she has grown up with.
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little EXTRA.”
“I think that’s why I loved writing the book, because this is a story that was so impactful in my life. And I get to share that with so many young people and just really special,” Clark said.
Released on November 3 by Random House Books for Young Readers, Caitlin Clark’s debut picture book is written in rhyming verse and explores how family, friends and teammates help people become the best versions of themselves.
The book draws on the message Clark saw on the mirror in her childhood home while growing up. In an interview with the Associated Press, she revealed that the quote had become a lasting source of inspiration and the mirror remains still in her parents’ house.
Fallon also wanted to know who got the mirror, to which the Fever star said, “I think my mom’s.”
During the interview, Caitlin Clark also explained that she hopes children who watch her play or read her book feel encouraged to pursue their own ambitions. She also pointed out that her own childhood idols were not limited to basketball players, making inspiration something she believes can come from anywhere.
“I think that’s what I’ve always said is like, as a young person, I hope you watch me play, and you feel inspired to just want to achieve whatever it was,” she added. “And growing up, I had idols that weren’t always basketball players too. I loved athletes in other sports or whatever it was. So I hope people read this book and feel like they can dream and they can imagine, like, I feel like the illustrations are so creative and so bright.”
Clark also revealed that the illustrations include personal Easter eggs connected to her family and basketball career. She pointed out that one character wears No. 6, a reference to her father’s number, while the girl scoring in the illustrations wears No. 22, her own jersey number.
“That’s my number. That might be a little selfish,” she joked.
But what does being extraordinary mean to the WNBA superstar?
In an interview with PEOPLE from November 4, she said she still considers herself an ordinary person despite what fans see her accomplish on the basketball court. She believes young people do not need to achieve something remarkable overnight to make their own dreams possible. Sometimes, it can be as simple as taking an extra shot at practice, putting more effort into school, or giving family members a little more time and attention.
“I think it’s the difference in just doing a little extra to reach your big dreams, and I think a lot of times, even through my career and even growing up and wanting to achieve really great things, a lot of moments can seem really daunting and feel like you need to do these huge things to accomplish whatever big goal you have.”
Caitlin Clark’s third WNBA season may have ended without the championship she hoped to win, but her latest project gives her a different way to influence the next generation. But the message isn’t about becoming a basketball star. It’s about understanding that the little things people do every day can help them achieve something extraordinary.