Alysha Clark Bio
Alysha Angelica Clark, born on July 7, 1987, in Denver, Colorado, is an American-Israeli professional basketball player recognized for her perimeter defense and reliable scoring touch. She has spent more than a decade competing across the Women’s National Basketball Association, top European leagues, and the Israeli National League. Over her career, Clark has built a reputation as a versatile forward who thrives in high-pressure moments, whether she is guarding the opposing team’s best scorer or knocking down a clutch perimeter jumper.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, Clark combines athletic length with a sharp basketball mind, allowing her to disrupt passing lanes and contribute across multiple categories. She has represented the United States and Israel at the club level and has added championship banners from the WNBA, the Israeli league, the Polish league, and the French league. Her path from a small-town high school standout to a globe-trotting professional illustrates steady growth and consistent competitive production.
Early Life and Background
Alysha Angelica Clark was born to Jan and Duane Clark, both of whom were musicians who nurtured a creative household. She is the younger sister of Corey Clark, an American Idol contestant who later became part of the same extended family story. Through her mother, Clark has Jewish roots, and her maternal grandparents spoke Hebrew at home. Although she was baptized and raised as a Christian, her heritage later connected her to Israel once she began her professional career overseas.
When Alysha was still young, her family relocated to Mount Juliet, Tennessee, the town she considers her hometown. There she attended Mount Juliet High School, where she developed into one of the state’s most decorated prep players. As a senior she averaged roughly 24 points and 11.6 rebounds, shooting around 78 percent from the foul line and 67 percent from the floor. Her list of honors included the Tennessee Class AAA Miss Basketball award, the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year, and Tennessean Midstate Player of the Year honors.
Path to Basketball
Alysha Clark began her college career at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she quickly established herself as one of the Atlantic Sun Conference’s brightest young forwards. She earned Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in her first season, then repeated as conference Player of the Year in year two. She helped the Belmont Lady Bruins reach their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2007 and left the program as one of its most accomplished players.
After two seasons at Belmont, Clark transferred to Middle Tennessee State University, where she sat out a year under NCAA transfer rules before suiting up for the Blue Raiders. Over her two playing seasons she led NCAA Division I in scoring both years, posting 27.3 points per game in 2008-09 and 28.3 points per game in 2009-10. She became the first player ever named Conference Player of the Year in two different Division I conferences, earning Atlantic Sun and Sun Belt recognition. In 2010, she entered the WNBA draft and was selected 17th overall by the San Antonio Silver Stars, launching her professional journey.
Alysha Clark Career
Early Career (2010-2011)
Although she was drafted by the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2010, Alysha Clark did not secure a roster spot in her first two WNBA seasons. She spent those early years playing overseas, joining Hapoel Rishon LeZion of the Israeli National League and later A.S. Ramat HaSharon. During her first season in Israel, she earned Domestic Player of the Year and All-Israeli First Team recognition, signaling her readiness for higher-level competition. These early stints abroad built her confidence and prepared her for a longer WNBA opportunity.
Seattle Storm Era (2012-2020)
In 2012, Alysha Clark signed with the Seattle Storm, beginning a nine-year run with the franchise. She developed into one of the league’s most reliable perimeter defenders, earning WNBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2019 and All-Defensive First Team honors in 2020. Clark’s defensive versatility, particularly her ability to guard multiple positions, made her a central piece of the Storm’s title-contending rosters.
In 2018, Clark helped the Storm sweep the Washington Mystics in the WNBA Finals, contributing across every game of the playoff run. She logged a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double in the decisive Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Mercury and led the Storm in minutes during the championship clincher. Two years later, in 2020, she won her second ring as the Storm swept the Las Vegas Aces in the Finals. Over her Storm years she also played abroad in Israel, Turkey, Poland, and France, expanding her resume while maintaining her elite defensive standards.
Washington Mystics and Las Vegas Aces Era (2021-2024)
In February 2021, Alysha Clark signed with the Washington Mystics, but a Lisfranc injury sustained while playing overseas forced her to miss the entire 2021 WNBA season. She returned to Israel in late 2022, signing with Elitzur Ramla, then joined the Las Vegas Aces in February 2023. That season she won her third WNBA championship and earned the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Award in September 2023, cementing her value as an impact reserve.
Return to Seattle and Washington (2025)
On February 9, 2025, Alysha Clark signed again with the Seattle Storm, returning to the franchise where she spent most of her WNBA career. Later in the year, on August 5, 2025, she was traded back to the Washington Mystics as part of a deal that sent Brittney Sykes to Seattle. The 2025 season highlighted her enduring value as a veteran defender and locker-room leader.
Driving Style and Strengths
Alysha Clark is best known for her swarming perimeter defense, sharp basketball instincts, and timely three-point shooting. Her length and quick feet allow her to guard wings and bigger forwards alike, while her off-ball movement creates spacing for her team’s primary scorers. Coaches have long praised her preparation, communication, and willingness to take on the opposing team’s most difficult defensive assignment.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Alysha Clark’s most memorable career moments are her three WNBA championships in 2018, 2020, and 2023, her 2023 Sixth Player of the Year honor, and her clutch performances in the 2018 Western Conference Finals. Becoming the first player named Player of the Year in two different Division I conferences remains a singular accomplishment in her collegiate record book. Internationally, she added championships in Israel, Poland, and France, underscoring her sustained excellence at the club level.
Alysha Clark Career Wins
Alysha Clark has collected championship hardware at virtually every stop of her professional journey. Her three WNBA titles are joined by Israeli championships with Maccabi Bnot Ashdod in 2015 and 2016, a Polish league title with CCC Polkowice in 2018, and a French Ligue Féminine de Basketball crown with ASVEL in 2019. She also added another Israeli championship with Elitzur Ramla in 2023. The variety of leagues and countries on her resume underscores her adaptability and winning pedigree.
WNBA Highlights
Alysha Clark’s WNBA résumé includes three championships, with her first two earned during her long Seattle Storm tenure and her third with the Las Vegas Aces. She was a central figure in the 2018 Finals sweep of the Washington Mystics and the 2020 Finals sweep of the Las Vegas Aces, then capped her 2023 Aces season with a Sixth Player of the Year Award. She is also a two-time WNBA All-Defensive Team selection, recognized in 2019 and 2020.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the WNBA, Alysha Clark has been a winner across Europe and Israel. She captured back-to-back Israeli championships with Maccabi Bnot Ashdod, was named Polish league Most Valuable Player in 2018 with CCC Polkowice, and lifted the French league trophy with ASVEL in 2019. In 2023, she added another Israeli championship with Elitzur Ramla, further padding her international trophy case.
Alysha Clark Family
Family Background and Lineage
Alysha Clark grew up in a household shaped by music, with both parents Jan and Duane Clark working as musicians. Her older brother, Corey Clark, gained national attention as a contestant on American Idol. Through her mother Jan, Clark is connected to Jewish heritage, with her maternal grandparents speaking Hebrew. That family link later opened the door to her Israeli citizenship and professional career in the Israeli National League.
Personal Life
Clark has balanced a demanding international schedule with a commitment to her family and faith. Her Jewish heritage, traced through her mother, became a defining part of her identity after she began playing in Israel and eventually obtained Israeli citizenship. Off the court, she joined the WNBA Changemakers Collective in February 2024 as a mentor, working to keep girls engaged in sport and develop diverse leaders in basketball.
2025 Season Performance
Alysha Clark’s 2025 campaign began with a return to the Seattle Storm in February, rejoining the organization that drafted her into championship contention. Her veteran presence and defensive acumen were key storylines for a Storm squad balancing younger talent with experienced leaders. As the season progressed, Clark continued to serve as a high-level perimeter defender and three-point threat in reduced minutes.
On August 5, 2025, Clark was traded to the Washington Mystics, bringing her career full circle after she signed with the franchise in 2021 and missed that year with a Lisfranc injury. The move gave her a fresh opportunity to contribute to a young Mystics roster while reuniting her with the city where she won her first WNBA title with the Storm in 2018. Her 2025 production included her typical mix of defensive stops, floor spacing, and steadying leadership.
Looking ahead, Alysha Clark remained a respected veteran whose combination of experience, defense, and timely shooting made her an attractive option for contending teams. Her 2025 performance reinforced her standing as one of the league’s most durable and dependable role players heading into the next phase of her career.
