Comedian of the Year 2024

After being a breakout star at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, Clark took on her first NCAA season at University of Iowa. In the same year, was named MVP in the under-19 world championship. This instantly putting her in the spotlight in women’s sports and beyond. And after a large improvement in her sophomore and junior season, being named player of the year by the Associated Press (2022-2023), Clark helped bring record breaking viewership of the league.

At the start of her senior year, Clark has been someone who has been known to show up to the court at her best. With sold out home games, millions of followers across social media platforms, and endless discourse that transformed a talented athlete into a public figure. But this pressure did not get to her, beating the NCAA scoring record with unbelievable shots that are drawn to the basket like magnets. She is credited with bringing Iowa back to the women’s NCAA championship for the second year in a row. And although the game ended in a loss for the Hawkeyes Caitlin Clark left her season with joyful gratitude.  And for the first time ever, more people tuned in for the women’s NCAA championship than the men’s.  

Caitlin Clark appeared on the 49th season on Saturday Night Live on the weekend update desk to address the comedic downplay of the WNBA, like three “pointers” for Michael Che: Be. Funnier. Dumbass. This was days before she was drafted in the first round by the Indiana Fever. 

Clark’s first season was filled with record breaking statistics like all-time single-season assist record (337), the single-game assist record (19), and the WNBA rookie single-season scoring record (769 points), while becoming the first rookie in history to record a triple-double. But she already won awards for that. Laugh Factory is giving Caitlin Comedian of the Year because of the way that she helped inspire more than 54 million unique viewers tune in to the Fever to watch her stardom. 

Her appearance on SNL is a testament to her larger media persona: mild mannered optimism. This is a unique attribute that we see at the Laugh Factory on unique occasions, it’s the kind of quality that makes you lean in and listen to what the subject has to say. 

"And the reason I play it is when I step in between the lines, I love it. And that’s what’s so fun about it for me: I get to compete. This was always my dream. And nobody should ever try to take that away from me.”

-ESPN Interview with Malika Andrews

"I know everybody would come up to me before the season started and was, like, 'only one thing left to do.' I don't think people realize how hard it is to get to this point. So I'm just proud of our group. ... I think the way I've tried to look at it is: how lucky am I? I get to have this opportunity. I get to do these things."

— NCAA National Championship Pre-Game Press Conference (April 6, 2024)

Yet in all cases, Caitlin Clark chooses to be grateful for all the amazing women that have supported her to be part of this cultural moment. She gives credit to basketball legends like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper,  Dawn Staley, and Maya Moore. While also lifting up current players in her league and her teammates on team USA. 

To us at the Laugh Factory, this is the mark of a great comedian. Joyful, intelligent, and entertaining communication to a captivated audience. All while giving due respect to those that came before you and those that are alongside you. Best of luck to Caitlin in her WNBA career and beyond.