Barack Obama had a special appearance at the WNBA All-Stars last Friday. Through his visit, he shook hands with numerous players, took some selfies, and provided some advice to Caitlin Clark, the most prominent face of the WNBA.
Clark has been at the center of much discussion over the past months, with Obama encouraging her to pay no mind to the critics.
“You’re great. You’re fantastic. Don’t let all this nonsense get you down,” Obama said in a video shared on social media.
“You know, I always say one of the things that was luckiest for me was that I didn’t get famous until I was like 45. You’re my daughters’ age,” he joked.
© Getty Images“To have that much immersion in nonsense … don’t lose that joy. The game’s the game, and you’re a hooper. You’re always hooping, and you’re on a nice little run right now.”
Clark was moved by his words and encouragement, thanking him and asking for a photo together. In an interview with reporters, she said, “You always remember why you play the game. I play it because I love it, and I haven’t lost that joy.”
“There’s going to be some people that love you and some people that hate you, and that’s just the reality of the world when you get into a position like this. That’s also a good thing for the game. Not everybody’s going to be your biggest fan.”
“I’m trying to navigate a lot of different things while trying to play basketball at the same time. So it was cool to hear that from him,” she continued. And I think, honestly, it’s probably a good reminder for all of us of treating people with respect, treating people with grace, and definitely a moment I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life. My hands don’t get usually pretty sweaty and clammy for certain things, but definitely for that.“
© NurPhoto via Getty ImagesClark has been a prominent figure in the media
This marked Clark’s first All-Star game, having missed last year’s due to an injury. Ever since she had her breakout in 2024, she’s been a much-discussed figure, bringing thousands of viewers to games yet sparking much conversation about her playstyle, the attention she’s received from the media, and more.
She’s one of the most polarizing figures in the league, inspiring strong emotions from players and viewers alike.
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