Todd Swank: Spending the Night with Caitlin Clark

Spending the Night with Caitlin Clark

Todd Swank's Diary Entry for August 25, 2024

Monday was Miss Sheri’s birthday and we celebrated with Grandma Linda and the kids. A good time was had by all even though Sheri’s still pretending she didn’t just get a year older. Meanwhile, I upheld my reputation being an embarrassing dad in public—throwing out inappropriate humor like it was going out of style. Who says you can’t have fun while the kids are wishing they could disappear?

Later in the week, Luke volunteered to take us out to dinner again. Turns out, being a financial analyst has its perks—not that we're complaining when it means dinner at the Chianti Grill. We had a great time enjoying good food and even better company. Who knew all those numbers he crunches could taste so delicious?

We took a drive down to the lake, and the sky was so stunning that Sheri couldn’t resist capturing it. She asked me to jump into the shot, and I obliged, but in hindsight, my silhouette probably did more to ruin the view than enhance it. Sometimes, you’ve got to let the sky do the showing off—especially when your shadow looks a bit defective!

On Friday, we had our Fantasy Football draft at Steve "Cuds" Cuddihy's house. This league has been going strong for 18 years, and I just realized I'm one of the last three remaining founding members. It’s a testament to how long friendships can last—even if the only thing we agree on is that our fantasy teams are way better than our real-life athletic skills. Here’s to another season of trash talk, questionable draft picks, and hoping we don’t regret our first-round choices by Week 2!

We all take our draft pretty seriously, especially since it's auction-style with Curtis the auctioneer at the helm. As the night goes on, things tend to get a bit... lively. Let’s just say the more the bids climb, the less clear anyone’s strategy seems to be. And while I won’t directly mention the “liquid courage” in the room, let’s just say it flows as freely as the smack talk. By the end of the night, the chaos reaches peak levels—but hey, that’s what makes it fun!

It's been about 14 years since I last won the league, and I haven't even made the playoffs in a couple of seasons. But for some inexplicable reason, I've got a feeling that this is my year. Maybe it’s blind optimism, or maybe I just really love the start of the NFL season. Either way, I’m excited—and probably way too confident. But hey, if this season doesn’t pan out, at least I can add another year to my streak of perfecting the art of losing with style.

We headed to Target Center on Saturday night for the Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever game. The place was packed, with fans filling up even the nosebleed seats. The lines outside were as long as I’ve ever seen them, even for a Timberwolves game—definitely not your usual WNBA crowd.

The massive crowd at Target Center had one main reason to be there: the return of Caitlin Clark. With her roots and college career in Iowa, she has a huge fanbase just across the border. The energy she brings is something I’ve only seen with athletes like Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan—her presence makes every game feel less like a regular season matchup and more like a can't-miss spectacle.

Miss Sheri has been a big fan of Caitlin Clark since her junior year in college. Having played high school basketball in Iowa herself, she feels a special connection to her. Caitlin’s incredible skill and leadership on the court have made her a powerful inspiration to young girls across the country. Watching Caitlin play isn’t just about the game; it’s about seeing someone break boundaries and set new standards for what’s possible—something truly admirable.

We were especially impressed by how much time Caitlin Clark spent signing autographs before the game even started. The stands were flooded with Caitlin #22 shirts and jerseys—it almost felt like a home game for her. With all that fanfare on their own turf, you’ve got to wonder if the Lynx players were quietly thinking, “Wait, whose house is this again?”

Saturday night was also Maya Moore's jersey hanging ceremony and she received the recognition she truly deserves. As one of the most decorated players in WNBA history, Maya led the Minnesota Lynx to four championships and earned two Finals MVP awards in her career. Being part of this momentous occasion was a powerful experience, as the Target Center paid tribute to a true legend of the game.

It ended up being a tough game for Caitlin and Indiana as they fell to the Lynx 90-80. Despite the excitement around Clark's presence, the Fever struggled, especially in the first quarter where they couldn’t hit a 3-pointer, going 0-for-7 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Minnesota capitalized on their shooting, knocking down six 3-pointers to build a solid lead.

With this win, the Minnesota Lynx secured their spot in the playoffs, showing why they’re always a team to watch when it counts. Who knows, if the Fever can make the cut, we might just see these two teams face off again in the postseason. It would be exciting to see them battle it out on an even bigger stage.

Here's some Caitlin Highlights we captured: