President Barack Obama popped up at the newly opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on Friday, not just to talk politics, but to drop some serious wisdom on WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark. His message was direct and powerful, “Don’t let all this nonsense get you down,” he told her during an All-Star practice. Obama, making a surprise appearance, spoke at length with WNBA Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike, even defended center Jonquel Jones, and checked in on Breanna Stewart’s daughter. But his words to Clark cut right to the core of the crazy spotlight she lives under.
More Than Just a Game for Clark
Obama, ever the orator, explained his unique perspective. “You know, I always say, one of the things that was luckiest for me was I didn’t get famous until I was like 45. So I was an old-ass man. I mean, you’re my daughters’ age. They’ve not had that much immersion and nonsense. So don’t lose that joy. The game’s the game.” Clark, who recently celebrated her 24-and-a-half birthday (she knows this because it shares a date with the Fever mascot, come on!), admitted she feels “political-level pressure.” She knows Obama’s perspective on the spotlight is unmatched. “The president is probably one of the best people to understand how [the spotlight] might feel,” Clark told reporters. “Obviously, I’m not on the same level as that. I want to make that perfectly clear. But there are 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.” While Clark says the joy is still there, it’s definitely not as prevalent as it was leading an overlooked Iowa team to back-to-back Final Fours.
The ‘Hate’ That’s Rocking the WNBA
This isn’t just about a few internet trolls. The “hate is at an all-time high” surrounding Clark in her third WNBA season, a sentiment repeated so often it’s starting to lose its shock value. But the league and union leadership are taking this seriously. They met via videoconference on Tuesday to discuss, in part, “racist, hateful, and abusive messages directed at players.” Many of these ugly moments have somehow involved Clark, whether it’s the retroactively assessed Flagrant 2 against Alyssa Thomas, or the racist message Chelsea Gray received after someone placed bets on an Aces-Fever game. It’s clear that everything Clark does, or potentially does, or might be doing, becomes fodder for people to throw tomatoes. We’re talking columns criticizing her flopping invoking Emmett Till, or accusations she skipped the orange carpet kickoff to go get her hair done in Iowa, when she was actually at a Caitlin Clark Foundation event.
This WNBA All-Star weekend is still rolling, and Clark, already a three-time All-Star, remains squarely in the hurricane’s eye. She handled nearly 30 minutes of questions, both serious and fun, proving she’s sticking to business despite all the swirling discourse and speculation. With the league stepping up to address the ugliness, you’ve gotta hope Obama’s words, and the league’s actions, can bring back some of that original joy for Clark and the WNBA. The spotlight on her clearly isn’t dimming anytime soon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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