INDIANAPOLIS – It started like any other game day for WNBA star Caitlin Clark, who had just stepped out of the stadium after another electrifying performance. But what followed was not just another post-game routine—it was the beginning of a story so moving, it swept across the country and reminded everyone of the profound power of compassion.

As Clark walked toward her car under the golden haze of a late afternoon sun, she noticed a small, scruffy puppy lingering at the edge of the parking lot. Its matted fur and timid posture told a silent story of hardship, but its bright, searching eyes were locked on her.

The puppy began to follow her, stopping every time she turned around, then picking up pace again when she looked away. Amused yet intrigued, Clark slowed down, letting the little dog catch up. When she reached her vehicle, the pup let out a faint whimper. A member of her security team offered to escort the animal away, but Clark, moved by the sight, gently declined.

“No,” she said softly, “It’s just a puppy. There’s no need to scare it.”

But as the car pulled away, Clark looked out the window—and saw the pup still following, struggling to keep up. That’s when her heart couldn’t take it any longer.

“Stop the car,” she instructed.

What followed was a heartwarming scene that onlookers will never forget. Clark stepped out and crouched down to the puppy’s level, offering her hand and speaking in a calming voice. The pup remained cautious but didn’t flee. With the help of a biscuit from one of her assistants, Clark began to earn its trust.

More people gathered to watch the quiet, tender interaction. When the dog finally inched forward and accepted food from Clark’s hand, a ripple of emotion swept through the crowd. For the first time, the puppy relaxed, leaning into her touch, its eyes softening in a rare moment of safety.

Soon after, a woman in the crowd came forward, explaining she had seen the puppy lingering near the stadium for days. “It looks like it’s been abandoned,” she said. “Like it’s waiting for someone who isn’t coming back.”

Clark looked down at the small, trembling figure now curled up beside her, and without hesitation, made a decision.

“We can’t leave it like this,” she said firmly.

Her assistant contacted a local rescue organization, but Caitlin remained by the pup’s side until help arrived. Even then, she wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

“I want to see this through,” she told her staff. “We’ll foster it. At least until it’s strong enough to find a permanent home.”

The dog was transported to Clark’s home, where her family—especially her young nieces and nephews—welcomed it with open arms. They gave it names like “Buddy” and “Fluffy,” but Caitlin gently reminded them that it was only temporary—unless fate decided otherwise.

As days passed, the once-shy puppy began to thrive. It wagged its tail, barked playfully, and explored its new environment with growing confidence. Clark, despite her demanding schedule, made time for the dog’s care—personally feeding, walking, and comforting it.

Inspired by the experience, she shared the story with her followers. The response was overwhelming. Thousands were moved by the stray who had followed Caitlin Clark—and the kindness that saved it.

Shelters across the country reported spikes in donations and adoptions. Families began stepping forward, eager to give animals like this one a second chance. The pup, now affectionately named “Buddy,” quickly became a local celebrity. When a loving couple stepped forward to adopt him, Clark met with them personally to ensure it was the right fit.

As she handed over Buddy’s leash, emotions filled her voice. “Take good care of this little one,” she said. “He deserves all the love in the world.”

They promised they would—and they kept their word.

Today, Buddy is thriving in his new forever home. His new family often sends Caitlin photos and videos—Buddy lounging in sunlit yards, playing with toys, and curled up in his cozy bed.

Clark, forever changed by the encounter, decided to launch a new initiative: Second Chances, a foundation dedicated to promoting animal welfare, supporting shelters, and encouraging pet adoption.

“Sometimes,” she said, reflecting on the journey, “it’s the smallest actions that make the biggest difference.”

Caitlin Clark being ‘White girl from the middle of America’ helped connect with young fans, ESPN pundit says

Clark was the WNBA Rookie of the Year and an All-Star.

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Caitlin Clark burst onto the national scene over the last two years thanks to her record-setting college career, her All-Star rookie season and the constant conversation about why she is popular.

ESPN broadcaster Monica McNutt suggested that Clark being from the Midwest helped her connect with young girls as she spoke to BBC about how women’s sports can be viable in the long term.

ESPN analyst Monica McNutt on the red carpet before the All-Star Celebrity Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Feb. 16, 2024. (Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)

“Two things – I think it has to show up in our storytelling and it has to be encouraged by our families,” McNutt said. “And so covering the WNBA this past season, Caitlin Clark’s rookie year, for all of the conversation that surrounded her, some which was fair and some which wasn’t, the one thing that I cannot deny is the amount of little girls that were showing up to follow her. Same thing for Angel Reese, when I had a chance to cover their games.

“But I think Caitlin represented, and again, some of this to me probably is not fair to her, because it was not anything that she said or was truly based on her personality, but she was a White girl from the middle of America. And so she represented a whole lot to a lot of people, whether that is truly what she prescribed to or not.

Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, poses for a photo during her introductory press conference on April 17, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

“We can all say she is a dynamic basketball player and a force both on the court and the marketing sense. But I do think, same thing with folks that may have fallen in love with Angel Reese, she may or may not have agreed with everything they had to say, either. We attach our fandom to these icons for all types of reasons, and sometimes they may not be based in truth.”

The race conversation around Clark has not stopped – it only fell to a whisper during the offseason. With the start of the WNBA season just around the corner, it has begun to pick back up again as the Indiana Fever are set to have 41 nationally televised games.

Basketball legend Cheryl Miller said she was over that talk.

“I’m gonna be honest, because it needs to be said,” she said on “All the Smoke” podcast last month. “I can relate to that young lady, and I felt for her. I know what it’s like to be hated. I know what it’s like to be a Black woman and to be hated because of my color. I can’t imagine this young lady, I don’t want to use hate, but despised.

Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, looks on during the first quarter against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on June 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

“She brought some on herself, a little bit, because she’s cocky for a good reason. And I love that about her. But to watch the dynamics, and the media, they had their narrative. And I was pleased and proud to see the narrative wasn’t the truth. And Angel (Reese) and her got along so well.”