When WNBA stars aren’t dazzling fans on the court, many of them find joy in other sports. One rising basketball icon who has made headlines not only for her game but also for her off-court passions is Caitlin Clark, whose favorite pastimes include golf.
And now, one of the greatest golfers of all time has revealed the words of wisdom she once shared with the WNBA sensation.
What Advice Did Annika Sörenstam Share With Caitlin Clark About Competing at the Highest Level?
In a recent exclusive interview with PFSN, legendary golfer Annika Sörenstam, who recently competed in the American Century Championship, opened up about her memorable day on the golf course with Clark and the advice she offered during their time together last year.
“I spent some time with her in the fall. She came to The Annika, which is an LPGA tournament in the Tampa area, and I just spent some time with her and played nine holes. She’s a tremendous person, obviously amazing on the court and drawing some huge crowds to women’s basketball,” Sörenstam told PFSN.
“And I mean, she obviously doesn’t need a lot of help, but [we were] just talking about how to deal with certain things, just sharing stories of … what it’s like [dealing with] expectations and working out, and even just our passion for our sports.
“So, just I think anybody up-and-coming — take somebody who’s not as successful as Caitlin yet — but it just takes a long time, a lot of discipline, a lot of commitment and hard work to get there, but just trust yourself and keep working hard.”
In November 2024, Clark participated in the pro-am at “The ANNIKA” driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club. The WNBA star shared the course with two golf powerhouses: Nelly Korda on the front nine and Sörenstam on the back nine. The pairing drew sizable crowds, eager to see the crossover of basketball talent and golf royalty.
Clark’s passion for golf was on full display. Though she had a moment of panic after a wayward shot narrowly missed a spectator, she bounced back with flair.
Caitlin Clark delivers a souvenir to a fan, very thoughtful
pic.twitter.com/UNZA2GqZAg— Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) November 13, 2024
Most notably, she sank a six-foot birdie putt on the par-3 12th hole using Sörenstam’s tee shot. The moment captured Clark’s composure under pressure and her love for competition.
The advice from Sörenstam holds significant weight.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest female golfers in history, Sörenstam boasts an astounding 97 international professional wins, including 72 LPGA victories and 10 major championships. In 2003, she completed the career grand slam, and she remains the only female golfer ever to shoot a 59 in competition.
11 Time Major Champion, Annika Sorenstam.@USGA @uswomensopen @LPGA pic.twitter.com/8ww8s02BFl
— Going Low (@GoingLowFAN) August 4, 2024
Sörenstam was impressed with Clark’s golf game.
“It was pretty good. She played golf when she was younger; I think she played high school golf or something like that. So yeah, she’s quite the player. She should play in (the American Century Championship) one of these years,” said Sörenstam about Clark’s golf skills.
Moreover, in addition to the ANNIKA Pro-Am, she also teed it up at the 2023 John Deere Classic Pro-Am, showing she’s no stranger to the fairways. But while her golf game is thriving, her WNBA journey has recently faced some turbulence.
In her second WNBA season, Clark has been battling through a tough stretch, dealing with quadriceps and groin injuries that ultimately led to her missing the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game. This season, she has averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game.
In the end, we can say that with legends like Sörenstam in her corner, Clark is clearly drawing wisdom from the best, on and off the court.
