Indiana Fever guard Aari McDonald recently dropped a gem that flew way under the radar—but fans are still buzzing. During Indiana’s fifth straight win, she tweeted straight from the road:
“Having a 12 page paper due during a 4 game road trip is wild😩😭”— Aari McDonald (X)
McDonald’s balancing act during Indiana’s hot streak is impressive, but she’s not the only one juggling life and hoops. Caitlin Clark—still out with a groin injury—revealed she’s working through grad school while watching from the sideline.
“I’m in grad school for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). I work on assignments on the plane, bus, before and after games/practices.”— Caitlin Clark
That insight adds a deeper dimension to Clark’s reputation: she’s not just a phenom in the gym—she’s studious off it too. Being enrolled in an intensive ABA program while rehabbing shows a type of discipline most rookies don’t have yet.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s tweet captures the chaos of life on the road: school deadlines looming, most teammates checking into hotels, and she’s still turning in papers. It’s no wonder her career-high 27 points against Phoenix came with perfect free-throw shooting—mental strength is her brand.
Caitlin Clark’s dual roles of student and athlete only amplify her future potential. And with McDonald showing she can carry herself under pressure, Indiana’s future looks sharp—even without Caitlin Clark’s minutes on the floor.
Clark’s Grad School Hustle Highlights Her Mental Game On Top of Her Ball Game
Caitlin Clark’s injury may keep her out of the lineup, but it hasn’t slowed her productivity one bit. While rehabbing, the Fever rookie is tackling a graduate program in Applied Behavior Analysis—a field focused on behavior modification and intervention.
She admitted, “I work on assignments on the plane, bus, before and after games/practices.” That kind of attention, especially in the midst of rehab and media obligations, reveals how she treats every challenge—academic or athletic—with equal grit.
Caitlin Clark’s brother Tre’von Willis—who played college ball at UNLV—has called her a natural learner. That pursuit of academics isn’t random: ABA masters programs require intense coursework and real-world application, especially when certified as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Balancing that load while injured isn’t easy, but it’s what separates the good from the great. If Caitlin Clark comes back even smarter and stronger, her next chapter may be defined as much by what she learned off the court as what she does on it.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
