Caitlin Clark bonds with Barack Obama at WNBA All-Star weekend over media scrutiny
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 thats been going on," Clark told reporters on Friday morning. "Hes somebody that has been in front of the media quite a bit and he reminded me, When I got famous in my 40s, I didnt have to do it in my 20s."Clark continued: "Sometimes, I think, people dont always realize, like, Im 24-years-old and Im 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, its 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