Former President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance Friday at the WNBA All-Stars' practice at his Presidential Center in Chicago, engaging with players and offering words of encouragement. The visit coincided with the opening of the basketball court at the center, which debuted last month.
Obama spoke to the players for a few minutes on the court, expressing his admiration for their game and its growing popularity. "Some of you I’m meeting for the first time. All of you are extraordinary and I could not be bigger fans," Obama said. He noted the increasing attention on the WNBA, stating, "The way the game has been growing lately, the way it’s been picking up and people paying attention to your excellence, I think it’s been something for basketball fans, generally, a sight to see. It’s been making me happy."
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark described the encounter as a "moment I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life." She shared that Obama complimented her on how she handles public attention, particularly given her high profile at a young age. "He reminded me, ‘When I got famous in my 40s, I didn’t have to do it in my 20s,’" Clark said.
New York Liberty player Jonquel Jones also had a memorable interaction, engaging in a brief defensive stance challenge with the former president. Jones, who had met Obama previously, called him a role model and praised his continued commitment to community engagement. "Someone that I look up to, someone that has paved the way for a lot of people to be here and see him continuing, his family continuing to give back to the community when they’ve already done so much is just so inspirational," Jones said.
Obama was gifted a No. 44 WNBA All-Star jersey, which the players plan to autograph. He also spent time speaking with a group of investors in the league and nearly 100 high school girls at the center.
The visit marks the first professional sport to utilize the court at the Obama Presidential Center. Obama, a known basketball enthusiast, previously attended an NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles in February. He was the first sitting U.S. President to attend a WNBA game in 2010, accompanied by his daughter Sasha to a Washington Mystics game.