San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle had some time during the NFL offseason and decided to catch up on some women’s basketball in the process. Following the Indiana Fever’s season opener against the Chicago Sky, Kittle weighed in on WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s performance in the first game of her sophomore season.
George Kittle Called Caitlin Clark’s Performance a ‘Decent Start’
Clark was back to form in the Fever’s first game of the season. She posted 20 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds — recording a triple-double for the third time in her young professional career. Clark led the Fever to a 93-58 win over the Sky. The 35-point margin was the largest in franchise history.
Still, Kittle kept his praise playful. He posted an Instagram story showing her stats and captioned it, “Decent start!!! @caitlinclark22,” along with a salute emoji and a fire emoji.
The comment was likely a friendly tease. Both Kittle and Clark are Iowa natives and share an alma mater: the University of Iowa.
Kittle played for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2012 to 2016, finishing his college career with 737 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. His breakout came in his second year with the 49ers when he tallied 1,377 receiving yards. He has since become a cornerstone of San Francisco’s offense. To date, Kittle has 7,380 receiving yards and 45 touchdowns through his eight-year career.
Clark, meanwhile, has been on the national radar since her time at Iowa. She drew massive attention to women’s basketball, breaking attendance and viewership records. The 2023 National Championship Game between Iowa and LSU became the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history.
Clark was selected by the Fever in the 2023 WNBA Draft, and her popularity has carried into the pros. In fact, several WNBA teams have moved home games to larger venues to accommodate the surge in fan demand when hosting Clark and the Fever.
Kittle Signs Extension During the Offseason
As for Kittle, he will remain with the 49ers for the foreseeable future. The tight end, entering his ninth season with the team, had a contract that was set to expire after 2025. Yet, his new four-year, $76.4 million extension reestablishes him as the highest-paid tight end in the NFL and rewards him after recording his second-best season in receiving yards.
The deal also ensures Kittle stays in San Francisco as a key offensive weapon for quarterback Brock Purdy, who also signed a contract extension this offseason.
Meanwhile, if Kittle wants to check in again to see how “decent” Clark is doing, she and the Fever will take on the Atlanta Dream next on Tuesday, May 20.
