Leave a Comment / Reviews / By admin
Caitlin Clark. Ever heard of her? If not, you can probably stop reading now. You’ve stumbled onto the wrong corner of the Internet. And this whole post is about a Caitlin Clark book. (She’s kind of a big deal.)
I’ve been fascinated by Clark since her early days at the University of Iowa. (Sorry to my 2 kids attending Iowa STATE University.) Clark’s tenacity, swagger, and those absurd, logo three-point BOMBS made every game must-watch TV. I’ve followed her occasionally bumpy, always dramatic jump to the WNBA, where she has continued to wow, and ruffle some feathers (usually unintentionally.)
On Her Game is veteran sports columnist Christine Brennan’s take on Clark’s rise to superstardom. Brennan doesn’t shy away from the delicate stuff: race, jealousy, the media circus, the “face of the league” pressure cooker. It’s not an authorized biography, but it’s definitely a well-informed one. Brennan had plenty of cooperation from Clark herself, plus current and former coaches, teammates, and pretty much anyone who’s been orbiting the Caitlin Clark Solar System over the last few years.
My wife gave me this book for my birthday, and I plowed through it in a single weekend. Basketball, drama, history, and some actual journalism? Yes, please.
My On Her Game (Caitlan Clark book) review:
Just so you know – I may earn an affiliate commission if you click a link from my site and purchase a product. Don’t worry, it won’t cost you anything extra! Hopefully, I’ll rack up enough commission to treat myself to a coffee someday—nothing fancy, just a plain small coffee from a gas station on the edge of town. Thanks for supporting the blog!
On Her Game (Caitlin Clark Book) by Christine Brennan
Full title — On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports
On Her Game is Christine Brennan’s deep dive into Caitlin Clark’s meteoric rise — from gym-rat kid in Des Moines to the most talked-about college basketball player since, well, maybe ever! Brennan traces Clark’s early competitive fire, her family’s support, and her breakout years at the University of Iowa. Clark rewrote record books, sold out arenas, and helped launch women’s basketball into the mainstream. Along the way, Brennan explores why Clark became the cultural moment: her absurd shooting range, the swagger, and her uncanny ability to make every game feel like an event.
The book also shows how Clark is reshaping women’s sports as a whole. Brennan tackles some complicated topics — race, jealousy, fame, money, the pressure of being “the face” of something big. She talks to coaches, teammates, rivals, and Clark herself to give a fuller picture of what’s really happening behind the highlight reels. This isn’t an authorized biography, but it’s definitely informed by the people who know Clark best – including miss logo 3 herself.
Here’s another great basketball biography from my favorite NBA player.
Who is Christine Brennan?
Christine Brennan is an award-winning sports journalist and longtime national columnist for USA Today. She’s also a regular commentator for major media outlets: ABC News, CNN, PBS NewsHour, and NPR.
- She broke barriers. In 1981 she became the first woman sportswriter at The Miami Herald, and in 1985 the first woman at The Washington Post to cover an NFL team (then the Redskins).
- She was the first president of Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM).
- She’s authored several books. Her 1996 book Inside Edge (on Olympic figure skating) was named one of the top 100 sports books of all time by Sports Illustrated.
- In 2020 she won the Red Smith Award — one of the biggest honors in U.S. sports journalism, recognizing major contributions to the field.
I’m an expert* in books about female empowerment.
*Or maybe just a dude who read a bunch of books about female empowerment.
Who is Caitlin Clark?
Seriously? You still don’t know? I thought I told you to stop reading back in the first paragraph.
Fine. Here’s the quick version:
Caitlin Clark is the once-in-a-generation basketball phenom who turned the University of Iowa into the most electrifying show in college sports. She shattered NCAA scoring records, routinely pulled up from the logo like it was no big deal. She helped launch women’s basketball into the national spotlight through a talent, swagger, and pure aura. After rewriting history in college, she entered the WNBA as the most hyped rookie the league has ever seen, bringing huge TV numbers, sold-out arenas, and a whole wave of new fans with her.
In short: she’s the face of women’s basketball right now, and whether you love her, hate her, or just pretend you “don’t really follow sports,” you absolutely know her name. Or at least…you should.
Now onto the rating! On Her Game – Caitlin Clark Book Review:
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 5/5
I loved digging deeper into one of the most fascinating athletes on the planet right now. I’m not usually a “give me the drama” person, but the rocky path to stardom that Brennan lays out is genuinely compelling. We’re talking race, jealousy, money, media pressure. The whole messy ecosystem that surrounds a superstar. Oh, and yes, it’s also about basketball. I am a hoops nerd, after all.
Things I liked:
- The deeper dive into Clark’s rise. I already knew she was a phenom, but Brennan adds context, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insight.
- Balanced reporting. This isn’t a hype piece or a hit piece. It feels fair, measured, and well-researched.
- The women’s sports revolution angle. Brennan connects Clark’s rise to the explosion of interest in women’s sports as a whole. It’s about time.
- Actual journalism! It’s refreshing to read something built on interviews, reporting, and fact-checking.
- It’s about basketball. Real basketball. Strategy, style, evolution of the game.
Things I didn’t like:
- The drama. Yes, it sucked me in, but I’m just not a drama guy in real life. I wish there were no jealousy, no race-related tension, no money politics. Just everyone holding hands and playing basketball like it’s one of my old-man pickup games at the gym. (We don’t actually hold hands.) But that’s not how the world works, especially when you’re talking about what’s at stake for the best players in the world. The messy parts are real, and Brennan doesn’t shy away from them…even if I kind of wished they didn’t exist.
What’s your favorite basketball book? Send suggestions my way in the comments!
