Caitlin Clark Calls Out the Media—And Gets Backup From Obama
Caitlin Clark is rightfully pushing back against attacks on her character and the way she has been covered in the media.
"I think there's a false characterization of who I am sometimes," Clark said in an interview with ESPN's Malika Andrews from WNBA All-Star weekend in Chicago.
"I get people have a job to do, but at the same time, don't make accusations about my character and who I am when you don't know me," she added.
"I get people have a job to do, but at the same time, don't make accusations about my character and who I am when you don't know me."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 24, 2026
Caitlin Clark sits down with @malika_andrews for a candid conversation. pic.twitter.com/IA0jLReHOd
The Indiana Fever star specifically called out the media for how things around her have been framed.
"I feel like media and journalism have a responsibility to tell the stories. A lot of times you guys are the ones controlling the narratives about what people read and what people talk about it. A lot of that is sometimes so far out of touch with what is reality. And that can be confusing to somebody that's 24 and trying to navigate life and trying to help her team win a championship," Clark said.
The infamous flagrant foul she was on the receiving end of from Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas was then brought up, with Clark clearly conveying that the subsequent discourse can weigh on her.
"It seems like there's always a moment like that in every season that I've so far," she said in sharing how that should have been handled properly in the moment and quickly moved on from.
"When I walk out of the locker room I shouldn't be, not fearful of what the conversation is gonna be, but it's emotionally exhausting, it's draining, it makes your shoulders tense because people don't want to talk about the basketball, they just want to stir it up and make it something else."
Case in point: A recent unhinged column from Nancy Armour of USA Today became a subject of conversation. It's shameful that the piece even made it to print, as among other slights at Clark and characterizations of her fans, Armour somehow drew a parallel between Clark pleading for a better whistle from referees and the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955.
DEFINITELY was not expecting this paragraph in the story based on this tweet about Caitlin Clark and foul/non-foul calls. https://t.co/O4JiMH5NdR pic.twitter.com/dYax9fHYXg
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) July 23, 2026
The idea that anyone could think that, much less print it in a major publication, was only further proof of just how far off the rails the conversation around Clark has gone.
Barack Obama Embrace Hopefully Signals Shift
Clark's plight has not gone unnoticed by former President Barack Obama.
Obama made an appearance at WNBA All-Star media day and made it a point to offer Clark some words of support and encouragement.
"You're great. You're fantastic. Don't let all this nonsense get you down," Obama said after approaching Clark.
He then relayed how he didn't get famous until he was older in showing an appreciation for everything she has had to manage at such a young age.
Even Obama knows about the nonsense that is being said about CC. Obama gives CC great advice.
— ericaf455💙 (@ericaf455) July 24, 2026
“Don’t lose that joy, your a hooper” pic.twitter.com/IrEHQhE60U
"Don't lose that joy. The game is like the game. And you're hooper."
The words from Obama were kind, wise, and correct. Clark is certainly hooping, as are the Fever as a whole.
She recently set a career-high with 45 points in a win over the Seattle Storm, which was also the first-ever 40-point 10-assist game in WNBA history. Overall, she is fourth in the league in scoring and second in assists, despite having to play under a minutes restriction after a return from injury. Indiana has won five of six games and are on pace to set a new record for points per game.
There is absolutely no reason all of that should be overshadowed by media coverage that elevates the worst aspects of social media or takes unjustified shots at Clark as a person and what she stands for.
an iconic pre WNBA All-Star practice link up 🔥
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 24, 2026
President Obama with CC, Kelz & AB. pic.twitter.com/tHiTDF7uYZ
It's nice to see her push back on what Obama appropriately described as "nonsense," just like it was heartwarming to see him seek her out to provide encouragement.
Hopefully it serves as a way to shift things back where they belong: basketball. Because there are plenty of great stories to cover there when it comes to Clark and her Fever teammates.
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Robin Lundberg is a media veteran and hoops head who has spent the bulk of his career with iconic brands like Sports Illustrated and ESPN. His insights have also been featured on platforms such as Fox and CNN and he can currently be heard hosting shows for Sirius XM and on his popular YouTube channel. And now he brings his basketball expertise to Women's Fastbreak On SI and Indiana Fever On SI!
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