For weeks, Caitlin Clark endured silence—brutal fouls on the court, media backlash off it, and a glaring absence of official defense from the WNBA itself. But when the league failed to protect its rising star, an unexpected wave of support came crashing in—from the NBA’s biggest names.
Steph Curry. LeBron James. Luka Dončić. Tyrese Haliburton. Trey Young. Their voices weren’t filtered through PR teams or carefully crafted soundbites. They were raw, real, and unified: Caitlin Clark deserves respect.
Steph Curry led the charge with a thunderclap of a statement. “I’m sick of watching Caitlin getting attacked,” he declared. “If the league doesn’t step up and protect her, things are going to get ugly real fast.” This wasn’t just a show of solidarity. It was a warning—spoken by the greatest shooter the game has ever seen.
And Curry didn’t stop there. He broke down Clark’s game with reverence, calling her shooting form “pretty much identical to mine.” He admired her confidence, her floor game, her flair. “She’s got the total package,” he said. Coming from Steph, that’s more than a compliment—it’s a passing of the torch.
LeBron James echoed the sentiment. For someone who has carried the weight of the league for two decades, LeBron recognized something in Caitlin Clark’s journey. “She’s bringing something special to her sport,” he said, highlighting her impact on league viewership and even progress like WNBA teams finally flying charter. “That should be celebrated in its own right.”
The admiration didn’t stop with the superstars. Pascal Siakam made headlines when he unexpectedly compared Clark’s popularity to his NBA teammate Tyrese Haliburton. “She’s a beast, man,” he said, before admitting that Caitlin might be more beloved than some NBA players. That wasn’t just praise—it was an acknowledgment of her crossover power.
Haliburton, who’s shared a city with Clark, didn’t hold back either. “She’s probably top five most famous people playing basketball right now,” he stated. “That includes our league.”
Even Trey Young, a three-point specialist known for his bravado, showed humility when asked about facing Clark in a shootout. “I’d have to practice,” he admitted. The fact that he didn’t just accept the challenge—but respected her enough to prep for it—speaks volumes.
Obi Toppin, Paul George, Luka Dončić—they all joined the chorus. Luka was direct: “Caitlin Clark.” No fluff. No hesitation. Just respect.
But not everyone shared the sentiment. When asked who his favorite WNBA player was, Jayson Tatum bluntly said, “Asia Wilson.” No mention of Caitlin. No praise. No acknowledgment. Silence, in that moment, became deafening.
Kevin Durant went even further. When asked to name his favorite female athlete, he chose Clark’s media rival Angel Reese. No shade was necessary—his pick did all the talking. In the middle of Caitlin’s historic run, Durant’s omission felt calculated.
Yet, this split in opinion is precisely what defines greatness. Caitlin Clark’s presence is no longer confined to the court. She’s stirring reactions, challenging comfort zones, and forcing conversations—exactly what transformational athletes do.
Paul George perhaps put it best. He didn’t sugarcoat the resentment Clark’s rise might spark from WNBA veterans who’ve grinded for years without her spotlight. But he didn’t discredit her impact either. He acknowledged the nuance, the emotional weight of this cultural shift.
Caitlin Clark isn’t just dominating games—she’s reshaping the narrative. NBA stars are either standing up for her, or being exposed by their silence.
She’s already changed how women’s basketball is viewed, drawing NBA-level crowds, driving ratings, and igniting a movement. Love her or ignore her, Caitlin Clark is unavoidable now.
And she’s just getting started.
