Caitlin Clark bonds with Barack Obama at WNBA All-Star weekend over media scrutiny

[ASFN Admin]

CHICAGO — Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark's All-Star experince is off to a presidential start.

Clark touched down in Chicago for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend on Friday, July 24, just in time for practice with Team Teresa Weatherspoon at the recently opened Barack Obama Presidential Center, where former President Barack made a surprise appearance to visit the league's biggest stars.

After giving a brief speech, Obama went and shook each players' hand and posed for pictures. Obama and Clark chatted for several minutes before snapping a photo together. Then, Clark motioned for Fever teammates Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston to join for a joint photo.

Clark said she bonded with Obama over the heightened media exposure they've both navigated throughout their careers, a conversation that she called "super cool."

“He just complimented me for the way that I handle everything, obviously with everything that’s been going on," Clark told reporters on Friday morning. "He’s somebody that has been in front of the media quite a bit and he reminded me, ‘When I got famous in my 40s, I didn’t have to do it in my 20s.’"

Clark continued: "Sometimes, I think, people don’t always realize, like, I’m 24-years-old and 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 and I think, honestly, it’s probably a good reminder for all of us to treat people with respect, treat people with grace."

Clark told USA TODAY Sports the exchange is "definitely a moment I'll probably remember for the rest of my life." She added her palms were "pretty sweaty and clammy" while talking with him.

WNBA All-Star schedule​

Friday, July 24​

• WNBA Live: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. ET at McCormick Place
• Skills Night: 8 p.m. ET at Wintrust Arena. Features the WNBA Shooting Stars and WNBA 3-Point Contest (ESPN)

Saturday, July 25​

• WNBA Live Presented by AWS: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. ET at McCormick Place
• WNBA All-Star Game: 8:30 p.m. ET at the United Center (ABC, Disney+)

Watch the WNBA all season on Fubo

WNBA All-Star teams​

Team Coop​

Starters

• Paige Bueckers, G, Dallas Wings
• Breanna Stewart, F, New York Liberty
• Kelsey Mitchell, G, Indiana Fever
• Natasha Howard, F, Minnesota Linx
• Gabby Williams, F, Golden State Valkyries

Reserves

• Angel Reese, F, Atlanta Dream
• Marina Mabrey, G, Toronto Tempo
• Dominique Matlonga, C, Seattle Storm
• Kahleah Copper, G, Phoenix Mercury
• Jackie Young, G, Las Vegas Aces
• Sonia Citron, G, Washington Mystics

Staff

• Head Coach Becky Hammon
• General Manager Cynthia Cooper

Team Spoon​

Starters

• Caitlin Clark, G, Indiana Fever
• A'ja Wilson, C, Las Vegas Aces
• Olivia Miles, G, Minnesota Lynx
• Aliyah Boston, C, Indiana Fever
• Jessica Shepard, F, Dallas Wings

Reserves

• Rhyne Howard, G, Atlanta Dream
• Allisha Gray, G, Atlanta Dream
• Jonquel Jones, F, New York Liberty
• Courtney Williams, G, Minnesota Lynx
• Kiki Iriafen, F, Washington Mystics
• Nneka Ogwumike, F, Los Angeles Sparks

Staff:

• Head Coach Cheryl Reeve
• General Manager Teresa Weatherspoon

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark bonds with Barack Obama at WNBA All-Star weekend over media scrutiny

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