Caitlin Clark’s influence keeps growing beyond basketball. Miss Indiana USA Sydney Shrewsbury wore a Clark-inspired costume at Miss USA 2025, showing how the Fever guard has become Indiana’s most recognizable sports figure in less than two years.
How Did Miss USA Celebrate Caitlin Clark?
A video posted on X captured Shrewsbury’s State Costume Show tribute during Miss USA 2025 preliminaries at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.
Shrewsbury appears to be wearing a navy blue and gold basketball uniform with “INDIANA 22” on the crop top, Clark’s number with the Fever. The navy shorts have gold “INDIANA” lettering on the waistband. She finished the look with a floor-length navy blue cape covered in white lace geometric patterns, white knee-high lace-up boots, and a basketball-shaped purse with “INDIANA” branding.
Miss Indiana inspired outfit by Caitlin Clark. pic.twitter.com/nQFUzsh4R9
— CCFC-off season (@sohali2012) October 21, 2025
The pageant moment shows how fast Clark has become one of Indiana’s top athletic ambassadors. The Fever drafted her first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and she’s already changed everything about the franchise. She won Rookie of the Year and made All-WNBA First Team while leading the league with 8.4 assists per game. She also averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 rebounds.
Her college career at Iowa built the foundation for that impact. Clark finished as the all-time NCAA Division I scoring leader across men’s and women’s basketball with 3,951 points.
Her games drew massive crowds and TV ratings that the NCAA called the “Caitlin Clark Effect.” That momentum carried straight into the WNBA, where she’s already being honored alongside Indiana’s most iconic symbols.
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Her crossover appeal quickly drew fans in Indiana. Attendance for the Fever increased during her rookie year. Gainbridge Fieldhouse sold out regularly, and away games attracted large crowds whenever Indiana played.
She set multiple rookie records, including two triple-doubles and a single-game mark of 19 assists. The Fever made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, though Connecticut swept them 2-0 in the opening round.
Why Does Clark Resonate Beyond Basketball?
The State Costume Show returned to Miss USA in 2021 after almost 30 years away. Most delegates choose monuments, state industries, or famous historical figures. Shrewsbury chose a current athlete who’s been in Indiana for one professional season. This shows that Clark is in a different category than most rookies or even most established stars.
Her off-court presence backs up the hype. Clark has endorsement deals with Gatorade, State Farm, and Wilson. Nike announced her as a signature athlete in August 2025, with her first shoe and apparel line dropping in 2026.
She also runs the Caitlin Clark Foundation, which she launched in 2023 to support youth education, nutrition, and sports programs. Her corporate partnerships funnel additional resources into the foundation’s work.
Clark’s arrival changed expectations in Indianapolis and pushed bigger questions about how the WNBA invests in its players and product. The pageant tribute in Reno shows her influence reaches well beyond what happens on the court.