Caitlin Clark and her fellow WNBA All-Stars have been having a blast in Chicago as they get ready for the All-Star Game on Sunday. Little did they know that their Media Day at the Obama Presidential Center would be made special by an appearance from Barack Obama himself.
A viral clip shows the 44th U.S. President going up to Clark and giving her some heartfelt advice amidst the controversies she’s been dealing with.
“You’re great. You’re fantastic. Don’t let all this nonsense get you down. I always say, one of the things that was luckiest for me was, I didn’t get famous until I was 45…You’re my daughter’s age. They’ve not had that much immersion in nonsense. So, don’t lose that joy…You’re a hooper. You always hoop.”
Obama went on to commend Clark and her team for going on a “nice little run,” referencing the Fever’s three-game winning streak heading into the All-Star break.
The former president is a reputed hoops fan, but as he noted in that brief conversation, Clark has been in the news for more than basketball reasons.
Over the past month, a fierce debate has raged over whether Clark has become too dramatic with her reactions to calls and non-calls. Some have argued that Clark is over-the-top with her complaints, while others decry how referees have handled the physicality that she’s battling.
“Super Cool and Awesome”: Caitlin Clark Reacts to Surprise Encounter With Barack Obama in Chicago
Caitlin Clark would later tell reporters that she was thrilled to meet former president Obama at his Presidential Center.
The Fever guard also reflected on the advice Obama gave her about dealing with her stardom.
“He walked through the door, which was super cool and awesome. And [he was] complimenting me for the way that I handle everything…Sometimes, I think people don’t always realize that I’m 24 years old. I am trying to navigate a lot of different things.”
Clark also called Obama’s message a “good reminder to treat people with respect.”
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