Obama visits WNBA All-Stars, encourages Caitlin Clark

Former President Barack Obama offered words of encouragement to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark during a surprise visit with WNBA All-Stars on Friday, July 24, 2026, at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The meeting occurred ahead of the league's All-Star Game scheduled for Saturday, July 25.

In a brief conversation captured on video, Obama approached Clark and told her she was fantastic, advising her not to let "all this nonsense get you down." He shared that he considered himself lucky for not becoming famous until his forties, contrasting with Clark's experience of navigating intense public scrutiny in her early twenties. He encouraged her to maintain her joy for the game, stating, "The game's like the game. And you're a hooper." Clark later described the encounter as a moment she would probably remember for the rest of her life, saying Obama complimented her for how she handles everything.

The former president's visit was part of an event marking the first professional sports league to use the basketball court at the recently opened Presidential Center. Obama addressed the assembled players, expressing his fandom and appreciation for the growth of the women's game....