The WNBA has walked long roads, and so has Caitlin Clark. Her journey from a high school standout in Iowa to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in college basketball has been shaped by many influences.
Fans often assume that her game draws inspiration from iconic WNBA figures like Maya Moore, whose legacy stands among the greatest the sport has seen. And as she has mentioned on one or two occasions.
But according to Clark herself, her true source of inspiration has always been much closer to home. And that does not go any further than her Iowa coach. Clark had nothing but hype for Lisa Bluder.
Caitlin Clark Says Lisa Bluder Not Maya Moore Inspired Her
In a recent discussion that might get some eyeballs rolling around her, Caitlin Clark has spoken her heart out.
During her latest interview with Lilly x Glamour, the Indiana Fever superstar revealed that it wasn’t Moore or any other professional legend she modeled herself after.
Instead, she credits her former Iowa head coach, Lisa Bluder. In Lisa, she saw a figure who guided her daily, challenged her consistently, and helped refine both her mentality and her game.
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“I’m here to talk about women that inspired me to become myself. People like my mom(Anne Nizzi Clark) and coach (Lisa) Bluder… always pushed me to achieve whatever I wanted to achieve,” she said.
📹: Caitlin for LillyxGlamour on the women that have inspired her including Lisa Bluder and her mom. pic.twitter.com/SPHOdw6pyx
— offszn caitlin clark source (@CLRKSOURCE) November 5, 2025
However, Clark addressed a longstanding assumption that many fans argue that her scoring style and on-court presence took shape while watching Moore during her prime years in the WNBA.
It indeed is a bold decision for Clark to put aside the WNBA legend, given that Moore was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame alongside Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles.
While Clark acknowledges Moore’s greatness and impact on the game, she made it clear that her deepest source of influence did not come from highlight reels or distant idols.
Caitlin Clark’s Longtime Coach Makes Career Decision
While she’s been out there living her dream life during the WNBA offseason, Clark’s former longtime coach is alive and kicking.
Shortly after Clark declared for the WNBA Draft, Lisa announced her decision to retire, stepping away after a remarkable 24-year tenure leading the Hawkeyes.
NBC announces that former Hawkeye coach Lisa Bluder will join the broadcast team as a women's basketball College Countdown studio analyst.
— Keith Murphy (@MurphyKeith) October 31, 2025
Bluder will work Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East games on NBC & Peacock.
She should be terrific.
Bluder retired in 2024 following 24… pic.twitter.com/mydWSZAP3J
Although Bluder won’t be returning to coaching any time soon, she will serve as a studio analyst for NBC, covering not just the Big Ten but also the Big 12 and Big East.
It would undoubtedly mark an exciting development for Clark’s former coach as NBC begins to cover all three conferences together for the first time.