Caitlin Clark (Image Via Getty)
Caitlin Clark has spent much of 2026 carrying the WNBA’s biggest spotlight. 2025, the Caitlin Clark Foundation announced a partnership with Scholastic to provide 22,000 books to under-resourced schools in Iowa and Indiana. Scholastic said that 65,000 children participate in the United States of Readers program nationwide. Judy Newman, Scholastic’s Chief Impact Officer, welcomed the partnership in the same January 2025 release. The 22,000 books will not appear in a box score, and they will not become a viral highlight.
I want to help kids have the same experience, to develop their reading skills, and open their imaginations to dream big,” Clark said. “Caitlin is a proven role model, and we are thrilled to work together with the Caitlin Clark Foundation to make reading more accessible to kids everywhere,” Newman said. Yet one of her most meaningful plays happened away from the court. Back in Jan. “I remember picking out the books from the Scholastic flyer and how empowering that was for me as a child, and how motivated I was to read. The effort also carries significant reach. What makes this story especially compelling is the connection between Caitlin Clark’s Iowa roots and her growing WNBA influence. Since joining the Indiana Fever, she has become one of the league’s most visible athletes. Every interview, every game and every milestone draws attention, but she has continued to direct part of that attention toward projects that reach children long before they ever think about professional sports. Their impact will happen quietly in classrooms, libraries and homes. For some children, this may be the first time they get to choose a book that feels like it belongs to them. Caitlin Clark’s own memory started with a Scholastic flyer. Years later, that memory has grown into a literacy mission that now reaches thousands of students across Iowa and Indiana. That is what makes this more than a charitable gesture. It is a personal experience turned into a lasting opportunity for children who need it most.