Caitlin Clark sat down with ESPN’s Malika Andrews for an exclusive interview ahead of tomorrow’s season opener. There was plenty of coverage on her return to health and Indiana Fever championship aspirations, but the part that hit differently was what she said about LeBron James.
What she described is not a casual social media exchange. It is something much more meaningful than that.
Caitlin Clark Sheds Light On Her Relationship With LeBron James
“I think LeBron has just been there to support me more than anything. He understands the microscope that I’m under and the spotlight that’s on me and I think he just wants to be there for me more than anything. When I was hurt last year, he reached out and was like, “Is there any way I can help you? Is there anybody I can connect you with?'”
Caitlin on her friendship with LeBron
“I think LeBron has been there to support me more than anything…when I was hurt last year he reached out and was like so there anything I can do to help you…and we text about golf. That’s next on our bucket list to play golf together.” pic.twitter.com/d8izfpWRcd
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“Just somebody that’s there trying to help you, trying to help make the game better, help you improve. And I think that’s a lot of our relationship now. And then a little bit of golf too. We text about golf, but that’s next on our bucket list is to play golf together. I’m not sure either of us are too great,” Clark told Andrews.
The injury she referenced is the right groin strain that cost her 27 games during the 2025 WNBA season, limiting her to just 13 appearances in what was supposed to be her breakout second year.
The fact that James reached out during that period and offered to connect her with resources to help her recovery is telling. The knowledge base he has built in injury prevention and recovery is as extensive as any athlete alive, and rather than keep it to himself, he shared it with her without being asked.
Earlier this year, Clark attended a Lakers game in March, continuing a James of the two publicly supporting each other across league lines. Clark has called James her GOAT on multiple occasions. In a TIME interview last year, she said watching his support for her and the WNBA was genuinely cool, given who he is.
The WNBA season opener is tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET on ABC. Clark is healthy. The relationship with James is clearly intact. It will be interesting to see how the Fever superstar performs, especially with a point to prove now.
