WNBA star Caitlin Clark says a kid-friendly ritual helps her manage stress
During an All-Star Weekend event held in Indianapolis on Saturday, the WNBA star spoke to Glamour about how she takes care of her mental and physical health as a pro athlete.
Clark said that one of her favorite ways to manage stress is rewatching Disney classics.
"The other day I watched 'The Parent Trap,' which literally never gets old, even though I know every single word in it," Clark, 23, said.
Even though the latest season of "Love Island" was a viral hit, the basketball player says it's just not her thing.
"I watched the first episode but couldn't get into it. Maybe it was too cringe for me? And it takes a lot of time — there's a new episode like every single day! I just couldn't do it."
Instead of blasting hard-hitting tunes, her pre-game ritual is all about calming melodies or no music at all. The Indiana Fever player also enjoys journaling before each game, a habit that helps her clear her head and stay focused on her goal.
"It makes me really intentional about what I want to accomplish and is a good reset if I'm feeling nervous or anxious about the game, to kind of wipe that away," she said.
Whenever she can, Clark unwinds with a round of golf. While traveling for games, she also takes evening walks and tries new restaurants with her teammates.
Being in the public eye isn't easy, and that's why she also checks in regularly with the sports psychologist on staff.
"I don't just talk about things that stress me out but also the joys in my life, and that's always a good reminder and reset for me," Clark said.
But her favorite tip for staying in tip-top shape? A good night's rest.
"I've obviously done everything under the sun, but there's no better rest and recovery than just straight up sleeping," Clark said.
As she recovers from a groin injury, she said she has come to truly understand the value of self-care.
"This is the first time I haven't felt like a young body that can run around and sprint every day and just continue to do that," Clark said. "Being a professional athlete, you really have to take care of both your body and your mind — it's been a journey learning about that."
As of Tuesday, Clark has missed 11 regular-season games due to various injuries, per ESPN. She never missed a game during her four years playing for the University of Iowa or during her rookie WNBA season in 2024.
Clark isn't the only athlete who has spoken about the ways they cope with the pressure and take care of their health.
Simone Biles said she saw her therapist ahead of the 2024 Olympic gymnastics team final, where she and her team went on to win gold.
"At the beginning of the day, I started off with therapy this morning, so that was super exciting. I told her I was feeling calm and ready and that's kind of exactly what happened," Biles said to reporters after the competition.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy says he overcomes performance anxiety by visualizing the worst-case scenario.
"For whatever reason, imagining the worst-case scenario gave me a level of comfort because I felt like any worst-case scenario that I could bring up in my head, I'd be able to deal with," he said during an April appearance on "The Whoop Podcast."
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