LeBron James Gives Caitlin Clark Massive Praise After New WNBA Accolade 1 Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

LeBron James Gives Caitlin Clark Massive Praise After New WNBA Accolade

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Grant Afseth | Last updated May 18, 2025 12:53 AM ET

When LeBron James talks, the sports world listens — and after Caitlin Clark opened her sophomore WNBA season with a statement performance, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer let her know he was watching.

Clark recorded the third triple-double of her WNBA career Saturday, posting 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Indiana Fever’s 93–58 rout of the Chicago Sky. Clark tied Candace Parker for third on the WNBA’s all-time triple-double leaderboard. It was a nationally televised season opener, a sold-out Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and an early-season highlight that instantly caught the attention of NBA royalty.

The postgame shoutout followed a pregame message from LeBron on Instagram, where he shared photos of himself with Clark and wrote:

LeBron posted this after Caitlin Clark’s triple-double in the 35-point Fever win vs. the Sky

He also wished her good luck before the game started. Greatness recognize greatness pic.twitter.com/XLSuKn26pf

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 17, 2025

Clark responded with humility and reverence, calling LeBron “the greatest of all time” and thanking him for the support. The exchange highlighted the growing bond between the two generational stars — one already the face of a league, the other quickly becoming one.

Caitlin Clark Appreciates Endorsement from LeBron James

LeBron’s endorsement of Clark isn’t new. Throughout her historic rise at Iowa and into her WNBA transition, he has consistently shown public support. In 2024, he encouraged her to block out distractions and “put your blinders on” as she navigated a rapidly growing spotlight.

Now, with Year 2 underway and Clark already adding to her résumé, the mutual respect between the two was again on display.

“It means everything,” Clark said of LeBron’s praise. “That’s the greatest to ever do it.”

Clark’s performance Saturday was dominant and composed. She led Indiana to its second-largest margin of victory in franchise history. She continued developing chemistry with fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston, who finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks. As a collective, Indiana displayed defensive improvement and benefited from the veteran additions of DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard.

“This is a great first win, but we have 43 more games to go,” Boston said. “So for us, it’s just about making sure that we lock in, re-watch the game, look at what we need to work on.”

Caitlin Clark Makes Impact Bigger Than the Box Score

May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in the second half against the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

While Clark’s triple-double sparked headlines, the impact of LeBron’s recognition may run deeper. His endorsement amplifies Clark’s visibility across fan bases and platforms — a sign of her transcending the sport in real time.

LeBron, known for supporting emerging athletes who challenge the game’s boundaries, has helped place Clark in a rare category: one who delivers statistically and commands cultural attention. The world seems to be watching whenever Clark is in a Fever uniform.

Saturday’s exchange was more than just a moment of social media hype. It was basketball’s past and present recognizing its future — and acknowledging that Caitlin Clark’s time is very much now.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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