Bar Prep Like Caitlin Clark Plays Basketball
- Tommy Sangchompuphen
- Jun 18
- 6 min read
Last Saturday, I attended my first WNBA game—a packed showdown between the Indiana Fever and the defending-champion, previously undefeated New York Liberty. The Fever snapped that nine-game winning streak with a thrilling 102–88 victory in front of a sold-out Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Caitlin Clark, in her return from a quad injury after missing five games, put on a show with 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in just 31 minutes. She drilled seven deep three-pointers, facilitated ball movement, and commanded the court with both precision and joy.
What stood out to me most, though, wasn’t just the stat line. It was the way Clark played. It was her mindset, her resilience, her focus, and her energy—each of which mirrors the qualities needed to succeed on the bar exam. As someone who works with students preparing for that very challenge, I couldn’t help but draw the connection.
Here are some bar exam tips inspired by Caitlin Clark and the Fever’s unforgettable win.
1. Don’t Settle for the Minimum
In basketball, the three-point line marks the distance from which players can earn three points for a made shot. For the WNBA, that line is 22 feet from the basket. Caitlin Clark made seven three-pointers in the game—and most of them were from well beyond that line. Her average distance? About 28 feet. Some were from a distance called a “logo three”—a shot taken from the area of the court near the center-court logo. Clark has become nationally known for these kinds of long-range shots, even before entering the WNBA. These weren’t desperation heaves. They were part of her game plan: calculated, practiced, and confident. She didn’t settle for what was expected. She went further.
💡 Bar Tip: Don’t treat the minimum requirements in your bar prep schedule as the finish line. If your course tells you to write two essays a week, do three. If it tells you to complete 15 MBE questions a day, aim for 30. Go over explanations. Revisit weak spots. The exam isn’t about raw effort—it’s about strategic and sustained effort that reaches beyond what’s merely assigned.
2. Mistakes Happen—Keep Going
Even elite athletes miss shots. In the fourth quarter, Clark missed two consecutive free throws—the easiest shots in basketball, taken without any defenders and at your own pace. But she didn’t lose focus. She didn't let that one moment define her night. She came back and kept contributing, racking up rebounds and assists and even getting a steal. She proved that a single error (or two) doesn’t erase excellence. Nobody's perfect. Not even Caitlin Clark.
💡 Bar Tip: You’re going to get questions wrong. You’re going to have off days. You might even bomb a full practice test. That’s not a failure—it’s feedback. What matters is how you respond. The students who pass the bar aren’t perfect—they’re persistent. Learn from mistakes, recalibrate, and keep moving forward.. You’ll bomb practice questions. You might struggle through your first few MPTs. That’s not a problem unless you let it be. Learn from the miss. Then, shoot again.
3. Rest with Purpose—Like Caitlin Did
Clark didn’t play all 40 minutes—but every minute she spent off the court served a purpose. Her bench time was intentional. Throughout the game, she took six short breaks:
🏀 Quarter 1: Out at 6:18, back at 3:41 (for a total of 2 minutes 37 seconds of game time rest)
🏀 Quarter 2: Out at 7:44, back at 6:12 (1 minute 32 seconds of game time rest)
🏀 Quarter 3: Out at 3:28, back at 1:39 (1 minute 49 seconds of game time rest)
🏀 Quarter 4: Out at 6:00, back at 3:43 (2 minutes 17 seconds of game time rest)
Each time, she returned with impact. Her total playing time was just over 31 minutes, but she led the team in energy, output, and control. These short recovery windows weren’t about taking a break from performance—they were about ensuring she could perform at a consistently high level, again and again.
💡 Bar Tip: Study like an elite athlete. Use short, deliberate breaks, like the Pomodoro Technique: 25 to 50 minutes of focused study followed by 5 to 10 minutes of rest. Get up. Stretch. Breathe. Hydrate. These purposeful pauses can increase your clarity, focus, and retention. You don’t have to grind nonstop to succeed. In fact, knowing when to rest—and how to come back sharper—is what gives you an edge.
4. Build an All-Around Game
Basketball isn’t just about putting the ball in the basket. It’s a multidimensional sport that rewards those who can score, pass, rebound, defend, and adapt to the rhythm of the game. Caitlin Clark’s near triple-double—32 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds—wasn’t just a showcase of scoring ability. It was a statement of balance. She created opportunities for others, defended actively, and stayed alert on the boards. She was everywhere on the floor because she knows that winning takes more than one skill.
💡 Bar Tip: The bar exam demands the same type of all-around excellence. You might be great at multiple-choice questions, but that alone won’t get you across the finish line. The essay section and performance tests are just as critical. Think of them as different roles you have to master—writer, issue spotter, analyzer, and advocate.
A successful bar prep plan plays the whole court—not just one corner of it. The bar rewards versatility. Play the full court.
5. Enjoy the Process
Late in the game, after sinking a deep three-pointer over Breanna Stewart's outstretched arms, Caitlin Clark turned and laughed—only to be met with a wide grin and chuckle from Stewart herself. That moment wasn’t staged or sarcastic. It was genuine. Two fierce competitors found a shared moment of joy in the middle of a high-stakes, nationally televised game. It didn’t mean they weren’t playing hard. It meant they respected each other’s talents—and understood that even in pressure, there can be connection, levity, and fun. It was a reminder that serious doesn’t have to mean joyless—and that sometimes the best performances come when you allow yourself to enjoy the moment.
💡 Bar Tip: Bar prep is intense, but that doesn’t mean it has to be joyless. Infuse moments of fun. Use creative study tools. Build in study breaks that recharge you. Reward yourself for completing difficult tasks. Joy builds resilience—and resilience carries you through the long days.. Watch a funny video during breaks. Use quirky mnemonics. Create a study playlist. Fun fuels consistency.
6. Celebrate Wins, But Don’t Settle
After the game, Clark could’ve focused solely on her stellar stats or the team’s dominant win over the previously undefeated Liberty. Instead, she took a moment to thank the fans—many of whom had traveled from all over the country and world—and quickly turned the spotlight toward growth:
“I feel strong. I felt good. I thought we played a good game," Clark said. "Thought there was a lot we can still improve, which is really positive for us."
That mix of appreciation and hunger to get better is the hallmark of elite performers. Clark didn’t rest in the glow of the moment. She acknowledged it—then focused forward.
💡 Bar Tip: When you hit a bar prep milestone—like finishing a tough subject outline, improving a score, or finally mastering a concept that’s been tripping you up—take a moment to celebrate. You’ve earned it. But don’t stop there. Use that momentum to carry you into the next challenge. There’s always something else to sharpen. The bar exam rewards consistency, not complacency.
Study the Way Clark Plays: With Purpose, Joy, and Fire
Watching Clark last weekend reminded me that excellence isn’t about raw talent or luck. It’s about how you show up every day—with discipline, intentionality, and the willingness to grow. She didn’t just score points; she led, she learned, she laughed, and she lifted those around her. From her long-range shots to her short breaks and even her post-game interview, Clark modeled what it means to play with both joy and intensity.
Bar prep isn’t all that different. You need a plan. You need to know when to go hard and when to recover. You need to bring focus, but also moments of levity that keep you grounded. Push beyond the minimum, embrace setbacks as part of the process, and keep showing up with the mindset of someone who knows every rep matters.
