Caitlin Clark reveals surprising ‘discipline lesson’ from Iowa coach that changed her game forever

A moment of indiscipline led to Clark’s unexpected ejection from an Iowa practice.

Lisa Bluder (R) knew how to instill in Caitlin Clark the discipline of a star

Any good coach knows that even the star players need to uphold team discipline. Caitlin Clark learned this the hard way during her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes when head coach Lisa Bluder handed down a memorable punishment-a lesson Clark says was invaluable to her growth.

The Indiana Fever guard’s rise to stardom began well before her WNBA career, with Clark recognized as one of the nation’s top players during her college years at the University of Iowa.

Clark has credited several mentors for helping her reach these heights, and one of the most influential is Coach Lisa Bluder, who taught her the discipline essential for any sports star to truly stand out.

In a recent conversation on Fresh Tawk with Jada Gyamfi, Clark recalled an episode where Bluder sent her off the court mid-practice, a move she now views as pivotal.

Lisa Bluder’s tough love approach

During the interview, Clark and her former Iowa teammates, Kate Martin and Gabbi Walsh, reminisced about their time with Bluder. Gyamfi noted the team’s many good memories, saying, “Every day there was something new, whether it was (Clark) performing a song before practice.”

Clark, however, immediately remembered a different kind of memory: “Coach Bluder kicking me out.” Her teammates, surprised, asked how that happened, and Clark explained it occurred during a drill.

She described how the players had been split into two teams for an intrasquad game when tempers flared, and she ended up being removed. Clark quickly acknowledged she was at fault, saying, “I would beef with the blue squad.”

Clark’s lasting respect for Bluder

While the incident didn’t have lasting consequences, it helped cement Clark’s respect for Bluder’s coaching style. “What I loved about her during recruitment was that she’s a player’s coach,” Clark explained.

The Fever star noted that Bluder wasn’t bound by a rigid system. Instead, she tailored her approach to each player, forming a team built on individual strengths. That adaptable, player-focused mindset was key to Bluder’s success and her impact on Clark.

“Coach Bluder is a Hall of Fame coach,” Clark said, highlighting the deep admiration she still holds for her former mentor.