Caitlin Clark has shut down talk of leaving her basketball career behind to become a . After an extraordinary debut season in the WNBA, revealed her earlier comments about trying her hand at professional golf in the offseason were merely a joke.

Clark, 22, took the league by storm in 2024 and has already been credited with transforming the women's game. After being drafted as the number one overall pick, she led the Indiana Fever to the playoffs, , and claimed the .

But her legion of loyal supporters were left concerned when she following the Fever's playoff elimination. She set tongues wagging again as she prepared to tee off at Wednesday's The Annika Pro-Am event in Belleair, Florida.

Clark will play with golf greats such as world No .1 Nelly Korda and 10-time major winner Annika Sorenstam. But she put worries to rest on Tuesday by clarifying her previous cryptic comments.

The point guard said at the LPGA Women's Leadership Summit: "You know, having my first WNBA season behind me and being here is super cool. I've tried to take as much time as I can to practise, but there is only so much hope. You just cross your fingers, pray.

"No, I've practised a little bit and I just had the quote about becoming a professional golfer. Everybody thought I was serious. I was not serious. I love it. I love being outside and making it competitive with my friends."

Clark revealed she played golf with her father growing up and looked up to PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy. And while she is nothing short of a basketball phenomenon, the former Iowa Hawkeyes star calls herself an "average golfer" with about a 16 handicap.

Before participating in her second Pro-Am, she humbly said: "Usually, I'm just praying to break 100. I'm strong, and I can hit it. It just usually doesn't go straight. I mean sometimes it goes straight, but it depends.

"You just step up there and hope for the best. I just don't want to hit anyone with a golf ball. That's my No. 1 priority."