Caitlin Clark has become one of the most polarizing figures in American sports despite being an elite WNBA talent.
Former President Barack Obama has now given Clark some timely advice during a crucial juncture of her WNBA career.
Former President Barack Obama Reveals Crucial Advice for Caitlin Clark
Since being drafted into the WNBA, Clark has played a pivotal role in the league’s dramatic rise. However, her popularity has also come with plenty of scrutiny, as some believe she hasn’t earned her status as one of the league’s best players.
Clark has had to face overly aggressive on-court defending from opposition teams, while abuse off the court has also become the norm amid increasing social media tribalism in the WNBA.
However, President Obama believes that Clark will do well to ignore the outside noise and find the inner joy that has helped her come so far.
“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 like 45. So I was an old-ass man. I mean, you’re my daughters’ age,” he said.
“They’ve not had that much immersion and nonsense. So don’t lose that joy. The game’s the game. And you’re a hooper,” President Obama said during his interaction with Clark at the WNBA All-Star Game.
Clark has been under intense spotlight this season and has also been involved in several on-court physical altercations.
Most notably, Clark was involved in an incident with Alyssa Thomas last month, where the Phoenix Mercury forward pressed her fist against the Indiana Fever guard’s neck. The incident was later upgraded to a Flagrant Foul 2, and Thomas was suspended for 1 game.
The incident sparked widespread uproar, with several politicians also weighing in. President Donald Trump called the treatment Clark received “rough,” while several U.S. Congressmen penned a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, calling for her to take steps to better protect Clark.
Clark was also placed 11th in the best guards category on her fellow WNBA players’ All-Star ballot, another incident that highlighted the growing rift in the league.
Meanwhile, Clark is enjoying an impressive year on the court and has been ever-present for the Fever. The 6-foot-0 guard is averaging 21.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game this season. She is fourth on the list of the league scorers in the league, and second in the assists category.
