It’s hard to imagine anyone beating Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark in a shooting contest, but a few names could potentially give her a challenge — players like Sabrina Ionescu, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson. However, is there a way to actually beat her? Perhaps in a fun, casual game like “Pop a Shot”?
That’s exactly what happened when Caitlin Clark faced off against NFL legend Eli Manning on The Eli Manning Show. In the latest episode, Clark and Manning went head-to-head in a classic arcade basketball game, where players rapidly shoot small balls into a mini hoop.
Even before the game started, Clark admitted this wasn’t her strong suit. “I’m actually really bad at Pop a Shot,” she confessed. True to her words, Eli Manning ended up defeating the WNBA Rookie of the Year, winning 76-51. After the game, Clark was a good sport, giving Eli credit and joking, “Give it up for Eli… He’s gonna give me lessons.”
To make things even funnier, Manning revealed that he plays this type of game often on his show — and this might have been his first-ever win. Clark took it in stride, saying, “Wow, I’m honored to be the first.” Shooting from close range with small balls is certainly a different challenge compared to the long-range shots Clark takes in professional games.
This isn’t the first time Clark has teamed up with the Manning family. Recently, her collaboration with Peyton Manning has also made headlines.
Clark has long been a fan of Peyton, even saying in 2024, “I actually grew up a Peyton Manning fan. I had this pink Peyton Manning Colts jersey.” When the chance came to work with him, she didn’t hesitate.
The two appeared together in a local commercial for St. Vincent Hospital, showing off their comedic chemistry. In the ad, Peyton jokingly acts like he’s performing surgery while Clark watches — only for the big reveal that he’s stitching up a teddy bear, not a real patient. The message highlighted that while Clark and Manning are sports stars, the real heroes are the doctors at St. Vincent’s.
Their partnership didn’t stop there. Clark also attended the 17th annual Celebration of Caring gala for the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, where Peyton has helped raise nearly $40 million. The event showed how both Clark and Manning are using their platforms to make a difference far beyond sports.