For all the criticism and ignorance that might have come Caitlin Clark’s way, recognition has never been in short supply. Travis Scott showed up to attend a Hawkeyes game in early March last year. Tom Brady congratulated when she broke the NCAA scoring record. Even the person she is thought to be emulating has called her “special” before she even stepped foot in the W. However, beyond these legends, Clark has that one person who makes her “star-struck.”

Back in March 2023, the Iowa icon pulled off something that no one could. She became the first 40-point triple-double in an NCAA tournament game, men’s or women’s, since assists became an official stat in 1984 on that day. Soon after, came the tweets declaring the now 23-year-old as the face of Iowa. Cuffs the Legend was one of them, revealing Iowa no longer reminded him of corn; it was now forever synonymous with Caitlin Clark. There came LeBron James’ nod. 

“Haha! But FR She’s so COLD!!!!!!! SHEESH,” he’d written in response to the tweet. For the young guard, that meant a great deal. 

Speaking on ‘A Touch More With  Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe’ before the All-Star Game, Clark opened up about the moments that made her realize ‘this is getting different’. This was one of those. 

“I think the one person who really made me starstruck probably was LeBron,” she started. “Because LeBron was a person that I grew up absolutely loving. Like he was like my Michael Jordan cuz I was younger and like that’s the person that I always looked up to. And so I’d say him… Steph… they began to like comment on some things as I was ending my career and then now professionally. I feel like I have a lot of those moments that don’t always feel real.” Indeed.

The Lakers legend has been consistent in recognizing Clark’s every milestone since then, while defending her against critics and unfair treatment in the league. It’s one thing to dominate highlight reels, but it’s another to have the torch passed to you, publicly and proudly, by your role model. “The greatest of all time,” as she called him once. But if you look closely, doesn’t seem like Clark was just admiring him from a distance. She may have picked up a thing or two from his game. Mainly, competitiveness. 

You can see the aggression in both. There have been comparisons, too, for letting the referees hear it every so often. The 23-year-old, however, has come to face the heat for the same this season. Not only did she jump in to defend her teammates multiple times when she was sidelined, but also had a public outburst against Michael Price during the game against Connecticut. As the critics get to work about her aggressiveness, the reigning ROTY has one thing to make clear.

“I feel like a lot of people don’t realize how goofy I actually am. And I think a lot of my teammates would say that, like… people don’t realize I’m just comedic relief in the locker room.”

That was evidenced by what happened during the weekend. As was captured by the StudBudz stream, she had completely let lose during the celebrations. The same was the case when Fever won the Commissioner’s Cup– laughing when Boston stealthily took her drink or joking about spending her day watching golf and rehabbing. She also kept things light throughout the All-Star process of picking the team and during the pre-match press conference when she dropped a witty line on Napheesa Collier. 

“Once I step on the court, I’m super fiery and want to kill. But every moment other than that, it’s not serious. I just have fun, I have a good time. And I think that’s hard for people to understand, and it should be,” she concluded.

Clark has mastered the art of flipping the switch, she knows exactly when to lock in and when to let loose. While she may not unleash her full college-era aggression every night in the WNBA, she’s learning to pick her moments, especially when opponents try to get under her skin. 

Indiana Fever Will Hope Clark Doesn’t Go The LeBron Way

Caitlin Clark was born on 22 January 2002, and at the time, James was a 17-year-old high school basketball prodigy attending St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. Shortly after, LeBron would appear on his first Sports Illustrated cover with the headline “The Chosen One.” By the time Clark could learn to walk, James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers a year and a half later. 

Clark has witnessed LeBron’s rollercoaster ride from the very start, watched as he left his hometown Cavaliers, took his talents to Miami, and finally captured his long-awaited first championship. LeBron eventually returned to deliver Cleveland a storybook title in 2016, only to pack his bags once more for Los Angeles, where he added yet another ring in 2020. Clark, with her eyes on the prize, is eager to carve out her path and hopes to lift her first WNBA trophy far sooner.

The comparisons between her and LeBron have been consistent ever since she broke on to the scene, as Colin Cowherd said,” The valuation for the Fever – $90 million before she arrived. Now, $340 million. That’s a four times valuation increase. LeBron didn’t do that when he went back to Cleveland. He certainly didn’t do it, going to Miami or the Lakers. MJ didn’t do that with the Bulls.” In the end, LeBron had to leave his franchise for a title, and with the off-court impact that she is having, the Fever will hope it doesn’t come to it for Clark.

Well, she was gunning for the championship this season, but considering her injury woes and how the team is performing, that seems unlikely. If Clark leaves, the franchise could go back to square one. This impact can go away as fast as it came in. Her loyalty, though, hasn’t wavered so far.