Caitlin Clark Named Grand Marshal for 110th Indianapolis 500 This Sunday
Caitlin Clark has been an instant star in Indiana since the Indiana Fever made her the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Already a beloved presence in the community, this weekend, Clark will play a major role in the city of Indianapolis' most famous sporting event, the Indianapolis 500.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced Tuesday morning that Clark will serve as the Grand Marshall of the 110th running of the Indy 500, which will take place Sunday afternoon. Clark will command drivers to proceed to their cars during the pre-race ceremonies.
"Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamoring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 Race Day with Caitlin," INDYCAR and IMS president J. Douglas Boles said in a statement. "Through our incredible partnership with Gainbridge, everyone joining us for the world's largest single-day spectator sporting event will get to do just that. Caitlin will bring unique energy and presence to a quintessentially Hoosier experience and an absolutely bucket list global sporting spectacle."
Clark "honored" for the opportunity
Sports stars have filled the role of Grand Marshal before, including baseball legends Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez in 2025.
"I'm honored to represent Gainbridge as Grand Marshal of the Indy 500," Clark said Tuesday. "I'm looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.'"
Pre-race ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. ET Sunday, with the race set to get underway around 12:30 p.m. on FOX.
Clark off to strong start in 2026
After missing most of the 2025 WNBA season with multiple injuries, Clark has returned to form to begin 2026. While she's still turning it over a bunch (5.0 turnovers per game), the former University of Iowa star has been brilliant otherwise, averaging 24.3 points, 9.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.
For the moment, Clark's field goal percentage (42.5) is also the highest of her career, and she has already set the record for the most 20-point, 10-assist games in WNBA history.
Clark and the Fever will be back on the court Wednesday night against the Portland Fire at 7 p.m. ET on USA.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 8:19 AM.