Caitlin Clark has proven she is one of basketball’s all-time greats, but her talents extend beyond the court to her childhood experiences with Beggars Night. Recently, Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever, shared how this unique Halloween tradition from Des Moines, Iowa, has influenced her playful spirit during practices. Growing up, she recalled that participating in Beggars Night required telling jokes to earn candy, making it a memorable experience that shaped her fun-loving nature.
“It’s a tradition here in Des Moines,” Clark explained. “When you go trick-or-treating, you have to tell a joke to get your candy. My mom was strict about it—if you didn’t have a joke ready, you weren’t getting any candy.” Despite the pressure, she believes this tradition adds an extra layer of enjoyment to Halloween.
In her first WNBA playoff appearance, Clark is set to showcase her skills on a bigger stage. After a remarkable rookie season, where she led the Iowa Hawkeyes to consecutive NCAA championship games, she is now focused on helping the Indiana Fever succeed in the playoffs. The Fever, who finished with a regular season record of 20-20, will face the No. 3 seed Connecticut Sun (28-12) in a best-of-three series.
Game one will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena, and it will be broadcast on ABC. If necessary, game two will be held on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN, with a potential game three following on Friday, September 27.
Clark made history this season by becoming the first WNBA player to average 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. She also set a new rookie scoring record with 769 points and earned accolades for her assist totals, shattering the single-season record with 329 assists. Her impressive stats include two triple-doubles and 122 three-pointers—another record for rookies.
As the Fever look to make a deep playoff run, Clark’s remarkable season will undoubtedly contribute to her team’s success in the postseason.