LeBron James Is Very Excited For Caitlin Clark's Third WNBA Season

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated May 5, 2026 1:30 PM ET

LeBron James hyped up Caitlin Clark in anticipation of the 2026 WNBA season.

Clark will begin her third season when the Indiana Fever host fellow No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on Saturday. Ahead of the season-opener, the 2024 Rookie of the Year posted a string of photos on Instagram.

"Year 3!!! See you all soon," Clark captioned the post on Monday night.

Clark received a response from basketball royalty. As he readies the Los Angeles Lakers for a second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, James supported the NCAA's all-time scoring leader.

"LFG!!!!!!!!" James replied with an emoji of a flexed bicep.

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Clark's comeback bid

Apr 25, 2026; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) warms up before a game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images© John Jones-Imagn Images.

Clark instantly seized the spotlight when turning pro in 2024. The first-team All-WNBA guard averaged 19.2 points and a league-leading 8.4 assists per game as a rookie.

Unfortunately, groin and ankle injuries derailed hopes of a sophomore encore. Clark appeared in just 13 games last season, averaging 16.5 points with a 36.7 field-goal percentage.

In her absence, the Fever took the Las Vegas Aces to a winner-take-all Game 5 in the WNBA semifinals. With the nucleus of Clark, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Lexie Hull returning, Indiana begins the 2026 campaign among the league's top title contenders.

The hype around Clark isn't dwindling after a down year. Clark ends the preseason as a favorite to earn MVP honors alongside 2024 and 2025 winner A'ja Wilson.

Those are lofty expectations for a 24-year-old with 53 career games played, and Clark acknowledged Tuesday that it can be difficult to give herself grace amid constant public scrutiny.

"It's definitely easier said than done," Clark said, per The Athletic's James Boyd. "And I think people forget at the end of the day, I care more than all of you. Like, I want to be the best, and I’m always analyzing my play. I’m always trying to find ways to be better."

Clark has the basketball world's attention before commencing her third season this weekend.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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