Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has quickly become one of the most talked-about figures in basketball, sharing insights into her Caitlin Clark rise to fame during a recent podcast at the WNBA All-Star Weekend. On Friday, Clark appeared alongside Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, revealing moments when she felt starstruck and discussing the impact of fellow athletes on her career.
The NBA Player Who Made Clark Feel Starstruck
Clark named LeBron James as the athlete who truly left her in awe. She described him as her basketball hero growing up, saying,
“
The one person that like really like made me starstruck probably was LeBron [James], because LeBron was the person that I grew up absolutely loving,
”
and compared James to Michael Jordan in terms of her admiration. Clark added that Stephen Curry is another player she looks up to.
She also shared how her fame sometimes feels unreal, explaining,
“
…but I feel like I still have a lot of those moments it doesn’t always feel real because, you know, I feel very lucky and fortunate. But there’s been a lot of people that I just grew up loving.
”
Mutual Respect Between Clark and LeBron James
The admiration is mutual, as LeBron James, a star of the Los Angeles Lakers and one of the NBA’s biggest icons, has publicly commended Clark multiple times. Most recently, he praised her resilience following her return to the court after missing two weeks with injury.
Early Recognition and Social Media Spotlight
Coming out of high school as the No. 4 ranked recruit in the 2020 class, Clark began attracting attention for her scoring skills with the Iowa Hawkeyes, although her popularity was more modest at first. An early moment of unexpected recognition came when rapper Travis Scott shared a post about her on social media after Iowa’s loss to UConn in the 2021 Sweet Sixteen.
Clark recalled that moment, saying,
“
I got back to my phone and everyone was texting me,
”
and added,
“
I’m like, ‘yeah, I have no idea why he did that.’ I’m like, ‘that’s super cool.
”
Breakthrough Performance in the 2023 NCAA Tournament
The defining moment in Clark’s rise came during her junior year at the 2023 Elite Eight. In a commanding 97-83 win against Louisville, she recorded 41 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking the first 40-point triple-double in an NCAA tournament game since assists officially started being recorded in 1984.
Reflecting on this milestone, Clark said,
“
That was the moment I really felt like things were really starting to change, like the amount of people that took notice that were like celebrities… or other basketball players.
”
Clark’s Role in the WNBA All-Star Weekend Amid Injury
Caitlin Clark earned the honor of captain for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game after setting a voting record with 1,293,536 fans supporting her. She also qualified for her first 3-point contest but had to withdraw due to a groin injury sustained earlier in the week. Despite not playing, Clark remained enthusiastically engaged from the sidelines during the weekend’s events.
The weekend’s festivities began on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis with the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest. The All-Star Game followed on Saturday evening, drawing attention to the growing prominence of players like Clark across women’s basketball.
The Growing Impact of Caitlin Clark in Basketball
Caitlin Clark’s rapid ascent highlights her remarkable talent and the shifting landscape of basketball stardom. Her ability to break records and connect with fans signals a new era for the sport, inspiring young athletes nationwide. As she continues to recover and perform, Clark’s influence is expected to expand, shaping both the WNBA and broader basketball culture in the coming years.