Korda has gone over the $4 million mark for the season.
Nelly Korda banked $487,500 for winning the 2024 The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, her seventh LPGA victory this season. It’s also her 15th career win and she’s now surpassed the $13 million mark for her career. Her 15 wins has her tied for 20th all-time on the LPGA.
Korda has a chance at an eighth week next week in the season ending CME Group Tour Championship but for now, she can enjoy a three-shot win in a tournament she’s now won three times.
Here’s a look at the prize money payouts for each player at the 2024 The Annika.
Korda won her seventh victory on the LPGA in 2024 and 15th of her career.
BELLEAIR, Fla. — Nelly Korda didn’t know brother Sebastian had come out to watch her play on Sunday until she’d finished. He’d never seen her win on the LPGA before, and his presence at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican was a gift in itself. The siblings hadn’t seen each other since the summer, when Nelly went to watch him compete in the U.S. Open.
“For him to drive an hour and 40 with three holes remaining,” said Korda, “one, he was very confident in me, and, two, just really nice to have his support and be out here.”
Family and team mean everything to Korda, and she credits much of her monumental seven-win season to those who occupy her bubble. This week, she made certain to mention longtime physio Kim Baughman early and often. The pair have spent a great deal of time together in the lead-up to this event after Korda suffered a neck injury before she was scheduled to fly to Asia.
“I mean, it was three times a day that I was seeing her and she lives 40 minutes away,” said Korda. “So she was coming to my house three times a day. Before and after practice, I mean, to every work out. I think she needs a vacation that I will gladly pay for.”
Korda said she rushed her rehab to get back for this week. Now a three-time champion at Pelican Golf Club, the World No. 1 relishes playing close to home. Her first victory of the season was practically in the backyard of her parents’ house in Bradenton, Florida, just down the road from where she was born.
With her most recent victory on the LPGA coming in May, Korda said it felt like lifetimes have passed since a torrid streak that included five consecutive wins. Since that time, there was:
the 10 at the U.S. Women’s Open
the unbelievable 81 at the KPMG Women’s PGA
the dog bite at a coffee shop
final-round heartbreaks in Paris and St. Andrews
migraines that led to neck pain and a forced two-month break this fall
Through it all, Korda showed an enviable resilience.
“She’s pretty badass,” said Sebastian, “she’s as tough as it gets.”
Charley Hull f England and Nelly Korda of the United States prepare to play the first hole during the final round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 17, 2024 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
On Sunday in Belleaire, Korda began the final round one stroke back of Charley Hull and found herself further back early on Sunday after a front-nine 37. A string of five birdies from Nos. 11-15, however, put her in the driver’s seat, and she won with ease after a final-round 67. Korda’s 14 under total put her three clear of Hull, Jin Hee Im and Weiwei Zhang, who secured her card for 2025 with the effort.
Now a 15-time winner on the LPGA, Korda’s seventh victory of the season puts her in rare company as she joins Kathy Whitworth (1973), Nancy Lopez (1978, 1979) and Beth Daniel (1990) as the only Americans since 1970 with seven or more wins in a single season. Yani Tseng was the last player on tour to win seven times back in 2011.
“Feel like I definitely matured a lot,” said Korda. “I realized what really matters truly in life, you know, through the tough times. I would say you’re not really grateful for them. You’re like why me? Why is this happening to me? Here we go again.
“But you have to be grateful for those times because they do help you grow. They make you realize what really truly matters. The people that really truly look out for you and are there for you will stick through it with you.”
About 10 minutes before Hull teed off in her opening round at Pelican Golf Club, her boyfriend made a bet.
BELLEAIR, Fla. – Roughly 10 minutes before Charley Hull teed off in her opening round at Pelican Golf Club, her boyfriend made a bet. For every five birdies made, they’d have an extra day tacked onto their upcoming European holiday.
“I was trying to make 10 birdies,” said Hull of her opening 6-under 64 at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. “Hopefully I’ll have more over the weekend, and I’ll have a two-week holiday at the end of the year.”
Side bets help the Englishwoman focus.
While playing several weeks ago on the LET in Saudi Arabia, her boyfriend called before the final round and said he reckoned she’d be 3 under after three holes. Hull took on the challenge. She didn’t get to 3 under quite that fast but still closed with a 6-under 66 to claim her first title in two years.
“I feel like I’ve been playing very, very well all year,” said Hull, who holds a share of first with Jiwon Jeon. “Sometimes you just forget how to win. So that’s kind of reminded me how to win.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda headlines a group of players in a share of third at 4 under.
Brittany Lincicome looks on from the first green during the first round of 2024 The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
“If you would’ve seen that front nine you would’ve thought, oh, my God, she’s going to shoot 85 today,” said Lincicome who made four bogeys in her first eight holes.
“You know, finally got a birdie on the front which helped, and then a bogey the next hole of course. Then just trying to calm down the nerves. Like I don’t know what happened after having kids or taking time off and coming back, but my brain just doesn’t quite – my body and my skills feel like they’re there and then my brain gets in the way.”
The 28-year-old Hull has enjoyed a strong stretch of play since she slipped in the shower and injured her right shoulder in July. In her last four starts on the LPGA, she hasn’t finished outside the top 20. Not to mention the 6-and-4 drumming of Nelly Korda in Sunday singles at the Solheim Cup.
After a T-19 at the Kroger Queen City in September, Hull headed back to England to recharge before taking a share of 12th at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia and a victory on the LET.
Charley Hull of England smokes on the ninth hole during the second round of the 2024 Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. (Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
Hull had a physio stretch her out during Thursday’s play, and she pointed to bad hips.
“I’ve been kind of lazy on the physio the last two weeks,” she explained. “Haven’t really had any physio and it’s just gone out.
“Yesterday I wasn’t feeling very well in the pro-am, had stomach pains and cramps and stuff. I think it just tightened my whole body up. I’m going to have a bit of physio and some needles put in me after the round.”
When a reporter noted that the issues must not have impacted her performance given the strong results, she confirmed that she could feel it.
“But at the end of the day,” she said, “I think pain is a weakness of the mind, so you just got to hit through it.”
“Sometimes your body gives you signs, right? It’s smart. I need to listen to it a little bit more.”
BELLEAIR, Fla. – Nelly Korda had never suffered from a migraine in her life until she got to the 2024 Solheim Cup. The only time she felt relief early that week in Virginia was to sleep in a dark room.
“I just wasn’t sure what was kind of going on,” said Korda. “I never thought it could have been an injury. I just thought maybe with everything, all the stress that I went through during the year, that like my body was kind of in overdrive in a sense.”
Several weeks later, as she was prepping in California with her coach Jamie Mulligan before heading to South Korea, she suffered what she called a minor neck injury.
“Sometimes your body gives you signs, right?” she said of the headaches. “It’s smart. I need to listen to it a little bit more.”
Nelly Korda of the United States plays her shot from the second tee during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 14, 2024, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Korda, who teed it up in Wednesday’s pro-am with WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, said she might have “rushed” her rehab to get back in time for this week’s event. A two-time winner of The Annika driven by Gainbridge, it was important for her to get back inside the ropes at Pelican Golf Club and play in front of somewhat of a home crowd.
Korda opened with a 4-under 66, chipping in for birdie on the 18th to sit two strokes back of leaders Charley Hull and Jiwon Jeon.
The 2024 Rolex Player of the Year, a six-time winner this season, wasn’t sure what to expect her first week back after a two-month break. Thursday marked her first time walking 18 holes since mid-September in Cincinnati. A doctor cleared her to practice on Oct. 28.
“Whenever I go through these things, I’m just kind of grateful to be out here playing,” said Korda. “Didn’t really know what to expect. Was definitely a little nervous on the first couple holes, just not knowing what to expect of my game because I have not been playing too much.”
During her time away from the game, Korda took part in a photoshoot for Sports Illustrated’s 2025 Swimsuit Issue. Korda said the invitation came about two months ago and it fit into her original schedule coming back from Asia.
“MJ Day, the editor, she was so amazing,” said Korda. “The whole crew was so amazing. I was very shy at first. I’m not used to doing anything like that; so outside my comfort zone.
“I think that’s what’s great about these opportunities is that you do get to step outside your comfort zone and do something different. I was just really excited for the opportunity to do this. I mean, it was so cool. The whole crew was amazing. By the end of day, I was having so much fun with them.”
The crowd following Clark’s foursome on Wednesday was larger than many final-round groups on the LPGA.
BELLEAIR, Florida – “Please, don’t push!”
“Guys, you’ve got to stop pushing.”
“Caitlin, please! Caitlin, please!”
“Breathe, everybody.”
Caitlin Clark mania descended upon the LPGA Wednesday, transforming what’s normally a sleepy pro-am day into a must-see event. After splitting her 18-hole round alongside World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam, Clark made her way to the rope line behind the 18th green at Pelican Golf Club to sign autographs. The frenzied crowd swarmed to get to her, holding out posters, jerseys and basketballs.
Security officials encouraged everyone to relax amidst the crushing support. The crowd following Clark’s foursome on Wednesday was larger than what many final-round groups attract on the LPGA.
From the moment Clark stepped on the first tee just before 7 a.m., fans lined the fairway for a rare close-up view of the WNBA superstar. Terry and Tina Beert came down from Davenport, Iowa, to watch Clark. Tina wore a sign on her hat that said, “It takes an Iowa village.”
Terry and Tina Beert take in the sights at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club (Photo: Beth Ann Nichols/Golfweek)
Five-time LPGA winner Barb Mucha, now 61, drove over from Orlando, Florida, to watch the pro-am. She didn’t watch women’s basketball until Clark came on the scene.
“The way she draws everybody together,” marveled Mucha, “She’s like a Michael Jordan, like a Billie Jean King.”
Current LPGA player Maria Fassi chased Clark down the 18th fairway so that she could beat the rush of fans. She wanted a photo, but she also wanted to say thank you.
“Being out here and supporting us, but also what she’s doing for women’s sports,” said Fassi, “it goes beyond the basketball court or the golf course. I think she’s changing a lot of people’s lives, and I wanted to make sure she heard it from me as well.”
Fassi, for the record, also didn’t watch women’s basketball before Clark, echoing a common refrain.
Clark showed up on the range 18 minutes before her 7 a.m. tee time and hit fewer than 20 balls. She started off with a worm-burner but found a groove, easing in by teeing up a few irons.
On the first tee, Clark played her left-to-right shot to perfection, finding the way to the delight of the adoring crowd. She played from the same tees as Korda and playing partners Dan Towriss, president and CEO of Group 1001 and Gainbridge, and Jason Rickard, who played collegiate golf at Iowa.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCUZWwXROsN/?hl=en
“It was so amazing,” said Korda. “She’s so sweet, so nice. It was nice it kind of get to spend some time with her. We’ve messaged a little on Instagram beforehand but to get to spend some time with her and to see the influence that she has on people, bringing people out here, and to see how amazing of an influence she is just for sports, was really cool to see firsthand today. … We just felt like two friends hanging out.”
Clark engaged regularly with fans outside the ropes and smiled profusely. Bad shots did nothing to spoil her day.
“She’s super mature for 22,” said Sorenstam. “I’m going like, wow, she’s 22; I’m 32 years older. Yeah, she’s an older woman in a younger body if you know what I mean, in a good way. She handles herself really well and good with people, says the right things.”
Clark loves to pound drivers and wasn’t afraid to step up and give it a rip. The natural athleticism and star power were on full display.
“It’s captivating,” said Mucha.
Sorenstam gave Clark a few pointers along the way, noting that when it’s windy, it’s important to find good tempo and get the clubface square to the target.
“She hits it a little quick,” said Sorenstam. “She played with Nelly on the front and Nelly is about power, so of course when you play with someone like that you want to swing harder and faster.”
That actually happened on the par-3 ninth, where she missed one left with fans lined from tee to green.
“Thanks for the good kick, whoever I hit,” Clark joked as she walked up to her ball. She then autographed a ball for the fan and apologized.
“I got hit, too!” another fan yelled.
Professional basketball player Caitlin Clark reacts on the eighth green prior to The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 13, 2024, in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
More than a dozen junior players from Miami made the trip up to watch Wednesday’s pro-am round. The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf crew held handmade signs for Clark. It was a good day to skip school.
“The young girls that are at our games having the time of their lives, all lof of them, if you go up to them start crying,” said Clark during Tuesday’s leadership summit. “It’s cute, but also I was just in their shoes however many years ago, I was begging my dad or my mom to take me to whatever sporting event it was and I was screaming, ‘I want to meet the players,’ whether they were a high school team or the pros or college because it was so impactful.”
She was well aware of how many young faces followed her for more than four hours on Wednesday.
Clark signed on with Gainbridge before she even turned professional, and her appearance this week was a natural fit for the partnership. The hope, of course, is that Clark returns to the tour for years to come. There’s a void of female celebrities in the game, making Clark’s presence all the more potent.
“It was so fun,” she said. “Obviously getting to see them do what they do up front, like people would pay for that. I got to do it for free and have fun with them. … Very lucky and fortunate.
Before she even struck a shot Wednesday morning she was showing off the shiny gold soles on the bottom of her custom Nike Infinity Tour 2 shoes.
Gold soft spikes?
It seemed only fitting for the WNBA megastar, who warmed up as the sun rose at Pelican Golf Club. The evening before, she was out chipping barefoot near the media center.
The Indiana Fever star played the front nine alongside World No. 1 Nelly Korda and the back nine with tournament host Annika Sorenstam.
“It was so fun,” she said after the round. “Obviously getting to see them do what they do up front, people would pay for that, and I got to do it for free and have fun with them. Definitely a fun morning.
“I feel very thankful that Gainbridge had me out here, and obviously their support of women’s sport is tremendous. Just very lucky and fortunate. Hung in there, did alright. It was a good day.”
Tickets sales for the event are 12 times the typical number.
BELLEAIR, Fla. – Brittany Lincicome, a two-time major champion and mother of two, brought a basketball to her press conference on Tuesday. She was there to talk about her decision to walk away from full-time competition, but she stayed late so that WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark could sign the basketball for her young daughters.
“I’m just, I’m going to be honest, I’ve never watched women’s basketball,” said Lincicome, who’s playing on a sponsor exemption this week at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, “and then to see her at the Final Four, we were in Vegas that week and I watched every minute of it, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.”
LPGA rookie Gabriela Ruffels expects to be starstruck Wednesday at Pelican Golf Club when Clark plays in the event’s pro-am alongside World No. 1 Nelly Korda on the front nine and tournament host Annika Sorenstam on the back. Tickets sales for the Belleair, Florida, event are 12 times the typical number.
Caitlin Clark poses for a photo with Annika Sorenstam at the Women’s Leadership Summit at Pelican Golf Club ahead of the 2024 The Annika driven by Gainbridge.
Clark, who along with Sorenstam is a Gainbridge ambassador, took part in the Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday afternoon before meeting with the media. The event’s moderator, Lauren Thompson, asked Clark what she wants her overall message and brand to be about. A heady question for a 22-year-old, but an important one give Clark’s global influence. The NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer has revolutionized women’s basketball.
“Coming from college and now to professional level, I’ve just been myself,” she said. “I think that’s what resonates with people. Like what you see on the court is kind of how I am off the court. I’m the same person.”
Clark’s “I’m-just-me” approach often translates to candid answers. Toward the end of the session, Thompson asked a series of rapid-fire questions to the panel, which included former supermodel and entrepreneur Kathy Ireland, Sorenstam and Clark.
What’s your biggest fear?
Ireland talked about being paralyzed by fear. Sorenstam said waking up and not having a purpose.
And Clark?
“Cats,” she said. “I really don’t like cats.”
The room erupted.
Clark went on to explain that there was a particularly mean black cat on her street growing up, and that led to a lifelong fear.
Apologies to anyone in the room who has a cat, she added.
As far as answers go, it was as genuine as they come. Much like her answer to what’s your favorite snack. Right after Sorenstam said “any fruit,” Clark shot back with Doritos, nacho cheese flavor.
For a generational talent, she’s highly relatable.
When it comes to her golf Wednesday, which gets starts as 7 a.m., Clark has one goal: Not to hit anyone in the gallery.
Brittany Lincicome brought a basketball to her own press conference hoping to get it signed by Caitlin Clark for her daughters. She later took a photo with the WNBA star. pic.twitter.com/4UgSP7UkAT
Growing up, she got a set of pink golf clubs for one of her birthdays and begged her dad to take her out to the course. She played just about every sport as a kid and loved being outside.
There are times when Clark can shoot in the mid-80s, but most of the time she’s just praying to break 100. Clark said her handicap is “like 16.”
Pebble Beach Golf Links is on her bucket list. Later this month, she’ll play a few rounds in Arizona when she’s with family over Thanksgiving.
Caitlin Clark and Annika Sorenstam at the Women’s Leadership Summit at Pelican Golf Club ahead of the 2024 The Annika driven by Gainbridge.
She has pro-am experience, having teed it up in the John Deere Classic pro-am in the summer of 2023.
“I’ll probably be nervous tomorrow, too,” said Clark. “I don’t know. I mean, I remind myself, like I don’t really care what happens. Doesn’t really matter. I don’t play golf for a living.
“Just have fun with it. This isn’t super serious. Enjoy the experience. There are so many people that would kill to be in my position or in my shoes.”
For those wondering how wide Caitlin Clark’s impact on the world of women’s sports has reached, look no further than the updated Golf Channel schedule for the LPGA’s upcoming The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club in Florida.
“I love golf, so the opportunity to play in the pro-am for a tournament with a legend like Annika Sorenstam’s name on it is so exciting,” Clark said in a release. “Gainbridge is a leader in supporting women’s sports, and that’s clear through their commitment to me, this event, Billie Jean King, and Parity Week. I’m looking forward to seeing all the LPGA players on the driving range, being part of the Women’s Leadership Summit, and, of course, teeing it up in the pro-am with Annika.”
Clark is a fellow Gainbridge ambassador, so it made sense to have her be a part of one of the LPGA’s newest and biggest events.
But her appearance in the pro-am has made this a major TV event as well. Clark will play the front nine with the world’s No. 1 player, Nelly Korda, and then the back nine with the tournament’s namesake, Annika Sorenstam. Andretti Indycar drivers Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson will walk inside the ropes as guest caddies.
Because of increased attention due to Clark’s participation, the folks at Golf Channel — a wing of NBC Sports — have beefed up the coverage of the early portions of the week. A release from the tournament explained the enhanced schedule:
Golf Channel will expand its Golf Today studio programming to start at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday and will include highlights, live tournament look-ins and expanded tournament preview coverage of Clark’s Wednesday Pro-Am. Throughout the day, video highlights and reports will be posted on GOLF Channel, NBC Sports, LPGA Tour and The ANNIKA social media channels, including a live stream of Clark’s warm-up range session on Wednesday, an in-round-walk-and-talk with the WNBA star and more.
Clark is also scheduled to be a panelist at the Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday (Nov. 12) at Pelican Golf Club, taking place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ET. LPGA.com and NBCSports.com are scheduled to live stream the summit in its entirety.
The penultimate event of the 2024 LPGA Tour season and hosted by World Golf and LPGA Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam, The ANNIKA will take place at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla., where the field will compete for a share of the $3.25 million purse, one of the largest on the LPGA Tour.
The field is loaded for the event with five players who have held the top spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings all expected to play and all but one of the 24 players in the 2024 Solheim Cup in attendance.
Soon, Pelican will be hopping with fans looking to catch a glimpse of superstar Caitlin Clark as the WNBA player joins the pro-am at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. Clark will play alongside Nelly Korda and host Annika Sorenstam on Nov. 13 at the penultimate event on the LPGA’s 2024 calendar.
And while the event will no doubt be a respite for members and fans, there’s still so much need after Hurricanes Helene and Milton slammed into the Tampa Bay area. To that end, the tournament and club have teamed up to create special “Florida Strong” T-shirts and sweatshirts that will benefit the Florida Disaster Fund, managed by the Volunteer Florida Foundation.
Multiple shirt designs are available online and in the Pelican Golf Club pro shop during tournament week. The t-shirts sell for $40 and sweatshirts are $65.
The Annika and Pelican Golf Club have teamed up to create “Florida Strong” T-shirts and sweatshirts that benefit Florida hurricane recovery efforts. (courtesy photo)
Tampa’s local TV station, WFLA, reported the damage assessment of Pinellas County included 28,350 homes sustaining damage from Helene and 12,560 damaged homes from Milton. In addition, 307 businesses were damaged by Milton and 585 were impacted by Helene.
Director of Golf/COO Justin Sheehan told Golfweek earlier this month Pelican lost 20 to 25 substantial trees as 100 mph winds ripped through the state. The area is estimated to have received 15 to 20 inches of rain.
“Hopefully, a once-in-a-lifetime deal,” he said.
In addition to the charity tees, the tournament is also offering free tickets to all first responders and one guest. First responders will have access to an exclusive hospitality venue, the First Responders Outpost presented by Servpro, located on the par-4 16th green.
The scene at Pelican Golf Club on Oct. 10 after Hurricane Milton dumped an unprecedented amount of water on the Belleair, Florida, course. (Photo courtesy of Justin Sheehan/Pelican Golf Club)
The 72-hole tournament, which takes place Nov. 14-17, has also announced all military personnel (active, reserve, retired and veterans) and a plus-one will receive complimentary access to the championship, including access to a special exclusive hospitality venue – the Hero Outpost presented by FedData – overlooking the tournament’s signature par-3 12th hole.
Children 17 and under also will be admitted free with a paid adult.
This will be the fifth edition of The Annika, which serves as the cutoff for finalizing status for the 2025 season as well as the field for the lucrative CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.
Eight of the top 10 players in the world have committed to the field, including defending champion Lilia Vu and the LPGA’s newest Hall of Fame member, Lydia Ko. Top-ranked Korda is a two-time champion.
The Crooked Stick pro, who played on the LPGA from 1987 to 1995, was amazed by Clark’s ability to make quick adjustments.
“Within the time we were working, we saw some drastic changes,” said Foyer-Faulconer, who had another lesson with Clark on Wednesday afternoon in Carmel, Indiana. This time the focus was on short game. Foyer-Faulconer noticed in the TikTok video that Clark was quite tense in her shoulders.
It’s all part of a tune-up before Clark plays alongside World No. 1 Nelly Korda and LPGA icon Annika Sorenstam at the upcoming Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican in Belleair, Florida. Clark will take part in the event’s pro-am on Nov. 13 and Women’s Leadership Summit the day prior at the club.
Last summer, Clark created a frenzy at the John Deere Classic Pro-Am when she played alongside Zach Johnson and Ludvig Aberg. Johnson called the Iowa legend “transcendent.”
After the Indiana Fever were knocked out of the playoffs last month, Clark joked that she planned to become a professional golfer during the offseason.
Caitlin Clark learning she is right-eye dominant with boyfriend Connor McCaffery and former LPGA player turned instructor Martha Foyer-Faulconer at Crooked Stick Golf Club (courtesy Foyer-Faulconer ).
Foyer-Faulconer grew up in Carmel and won three Indiana high school titles as a golfer, but her first love was basketball. In the LPGA media guide, Foyer-Faulconer listed her favorite moment in golf as playing basketball with Julius Irving. She once played one-on-one against “Dr. J” during a party at the tour’s Atlantic City stop.
Needless to say, it’s a thrill for Foyer-Faulconer to work with Clark, who is shopping around for a golf home in the Hoosier State. Foyer-Faulconer confirmed that the 22-year-old is nuts about the game and described her as a raw talent. It helps, too, that the weather of late has been ideal for her to grind.
“It’s also part of her DNA,” said Foyer-Faulconer, “because she’s going to do things well. She wants to be as good as she can in everything she touches. She’s very driven and passionate. It’s fun to work with her.”
On the lesson tee, Foyer-Faulconer worked first on Clark’s setup, moving her a bit farther away from the ball. The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year was eager to get rid of her slice and mostly wanted to pound drivers, telling her coach, “Oh, I just want to kill it.”
Foyer-Faulconer noted that they first needed to get all the parts working together in unison, so they began with wedges. It wasn’t long, however, before Clark had driver back in hand, and there was rapid improvement.
Foyer-Faulconer said it was almost like pushing a button.
“Some of this stuff you can’t teach people,” she said. “They just either have it or they don’t.”
