What Nancy Drew Taught Caitlin Clark by Judy L Murray

I admit, I am obsessed with Nancy Drew. Then again, I’m obsessed with most famous women sleuths, from young to old. Trixie Belden, Jane Marple, Nora Charles, Jessica Fletcher, Agatha Raisin, Precious Ramotswe - you name them and I’m likely a huge fan.

Then there’s Caitlin Clark, the record-breaking sports phenom. Caitlin is described as a singular force in women’s college basketball like no other. The final game, between South Carolina's Gamecocks and the University of Iowa's Hawkeyes, peaked at a whopping 24 million viewers combined on ESPN and ABC, making it the first time in history that a women's final in any sport draw a larger TV audience than the men's, according to ESPN. Her talent, drive, and focus have brought women’s basketball into the hearts and minds of many, even those who before Caitlin had little interest in women’s sports.

Remind you of another female phenom? Nancy Drew was introduced in April 1930, an extremely tough time for our country and the world. The Secret of the Old Clock, Nancy’s first case, was on the New York Times Best Seller list for almost two years. It was unprecedented, especially for a sixteen-year-old female character only ten years after women won the right to vote. Four more of her adventures were released that same year. To date, 175 mysteries, over 80 million copies, have been sold. The world embraced Nancy Drew and the concept that women could be smart, seek adventure, and persevere under pressure. She encouraged a love of reading when a generation was swamped by sadness, shoes lined with cardboard, and absent fathers.

In the midst of the Great Depression when books were a luxury, soup kitchens were common, and families often divided to find jobs, people scrounged up the money to purchase Nancy’s adventures. Nancy Drew became a popular role model impacting generations to come, including young women like Caitlin Clark. I remember in the 1960’s, my fervent hope was to talk my father into buying me her latest adventure. He’d take me to the local pharmacist on Sunday afternoons where I’d spin the display wheel of books with longing eyes.

So, what does the icon Nancy Drew teach Caitlin Clark and any young woman who wants to excel in sports, art, science, or raising strong and stable children?

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1.     Self-discipline. Nancy is prepared. She’s aware of her surroundings. She doesn’t sleep in. She keeps an overnight bag for emergencies in her trunk. When she’s on the case, she’s tireless.

2.      Determination. Nancy is not side-tracked by naysayers who attempt to discourage her or Friday night partiers. She stands up for herself even in the face of criticism, determined to excel, to build on her own talents. She’s indefatigable.

3.     Courage – Nancy is fearless. Nancy searches in musty basements, spooky attics, caves, and under crumbling walls. She travels the world outside her safe Midwestern community. Nothing holds her back from fulfilling what she believes is her destiny.

4.     Respect with self-respect. She’s a young woman who respects her seniors but never caves. She’s committed to her objective. She’s not intimidated. She believes in herself.

5.     Can work under pressure. She taps Morse Code while tied to a chair. To think is to act.

6.     She values loyalty to family and friends. Nancy’s acquaintances often face difficult odds, but they know they can depend on her. She steps forward to seek justice and close the case, time after time.

Nancy Drew and Caitlin Clark are exceptional at their craft. They inspire. They leave me with much to emulate.

Who provides you with inspiration when you stare at a blank page, feel the self-doubt of a muddling middle, or face a fourth revision? Try to picture Nancy and Caitlin. Nancy would be on the case, chin up and flashlight in hand. Caitlin would stand mid-court, call up her confidence, and take that three-point shot.