Caitlin Clark’s sophomore WNBA season was one to forget. Plagued by three different injuries, she was limited to just 13 games — the last one coming way back on July 15. But today, fans finally got to see her back in action, though not on the basketball court. The spotlight shifted to the greens at Pelican Golf Club, where cameras rolled as Clark teed off at the Annika Pro-Am, driven by Gainbridge. It wasn’t the W, but seeing her compete again with a golf club in hand was definitely special for fans.

Following the event, fans got to witness another special moment on the LPGA’s YouTube channel. Dan Towriss, CEO of Gainbridge and President of Group 1001, presented Caitlin Clark with a $22,000 check — a donation that will go directly to the Caitlin Clark Foundation.

Last year, Caitlin Clark signed a multi-year partnership with Gainbridge, becoming one of its brand ambassadors alongside legends like Billie Jean King and Annika Sorenstam. Remember the viral Gainbridge Assists commercial? For those who missed it, Gainbridge teamed up with Clark for their Ultimate Assist campaign — a fun, lighthearted ad showing Caitlin doing it all, from handing out popcorn to wiping the floor. At first glance, it’s clever marketing, but it goes deeper than that. Clark’s precise assists on the court perfectly symbolize the kind of smart, reliable support Gainbridge aims to provide its investors. It’s one of many creative collaborations between the two since their partnership began.

The Indiana-based financial services and insurance company also owns the naming rights to the Indiana Fever’s home, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which it shares with the Indiana Pacers. It’s also the title sponsor of the Billie Jean King Cup, and earlier this year, the brand secured naming rights for the USL Super League, a new professional women’s soccer league in the U.S. According to Mike Nichols, chief of sponsorship strategy and activation for Gainbridge’s parent company Group 1001, roughly 40% of the company’s total sponsorship budget is dedicated to women’s sports.

Since the partnership began, Caitlin has appeared at the Annika Pro-Am for two consecutive years, and it’s not hard to understand why, given the connection both she and Annika share with Gainbridge. Her recent $22,000 donation from the company will go directly to the Caitlin Clark Foundation, as mentioned above. Her foundation supports programs that help children excel in school, access healthy meals, and stay active through sports and physical activities.

As for the golf, let’s just say Caitlin Clark had her moments. She showed flashes of competitiveness, mixing frustration with mis-hits and pure joy when she nailed a good shot. Clark struggled to fix her slice on the front nine, and her frustration finally showed when one of her drives drifted onto the second fairway.

While her front nine was marked by a few wayward drives and flashes of frustration, Caitlin Clark found her groove on the back nine, sinking an impressive 35-foot putt that drew cheers from the crowd. But beyond the golf, the day was filled with laughter and fun — thanks to her Fever teammates Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull, who served as her celebrity caddies and created quite a scene!

Caitlin Clark’s teammate hits a fan

Last year, one of Caitlin Clark’s wayward shots accidentally struck a fan on the shoulder — though it ended on a wholesome note when the fan got the ball signed by the Fever superstar herself. This year, Clark was extra cautious to avoid a repeat of that moment. But this time around, it wasn’t her who made the blunder; it was one of her teammates who ended up recreating the incident instead.

Inspired by Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham decided to grab a club and take a swing of her own while Clark watched nearby. With a playful grin, Sophie shouted “Happy Gilmore!” before taking her shot. But things didn’t quite go as planned. Her shot went completely off course and hit a fan. “Man down! Man down!” yelled Clark as Cunningham rushed over to check on the fan, making sure he was okay.

It was a day well spent for Caitlin Clark, enjoying some lighthearted fun with her teammates as she continues to recover from her injury and prepare for her return to the basketball court. Whether she’ll have Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull by her side next season, though, remains to be seen. With free agency around the corner, the future of the Tres Leches trio will soon be decided.

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