Heartbreak in the World of Basketball ..
The basketball community is reeling from devastating news: Anne Nizzi-Clark, the beloved mother of WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark, has passed away suddenly at age 56.
Anne was more than a parent—she was Caitlin’s quiet force, her emotional anchor, and the architect of a resilience that turned a small-town Iowa girl into a global phenomenon. A former marketing executive with an athlete’s heart (granddaughter of legendary coach Bob Nizzi), Anne instilled in Caitlin the grit to shatter NCAA scoring records and the grace to handle fame’s glare.
From packed high school gyms in West Des Moines to sold-out arenas in Indianapolis, Anne was always courtside—cheering, strategizing, and reminding her daughter that “the game is bigger than the scoreboard.” Her sudden loss leaves a void no stat sheet can measure.
Tonight, the Indiana Fever dimmed Gainbridge Fieldhouse lights in tribute. Teammates wore black armbands; fans left flowers at Caitlin’s locker. Across the league, players shared memories of Anne’s warm hugs and sharper halftime advice.
Caitlin, visibly shattered, released a statement: “She taught me to play fearless and love fiercely. I’ll carry her in every crossover, every shot, every fight.”
Anne Nizzi-Clark: mother, mentor, matriarch. The game—and her daughter—will never be the same.
