Caitlin Clark became a star with her electrifying play on the basketball court.
She’s become a major celebrity.
And Caitlin Clark’s coach said two words about Taylor Swift that took her by surprise.
Caitlin Clark compared to Taylor Swift by her new coach
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has taken the sports world by storm beginning with her career playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Her play has created a newfound interest in women’s basketball and made her one of the most popular female athletes in recent memory.
The buzz around Clark has caused the Fever and their WNBA opponents to move games into NBA-sized arenas to accommodate the fan interest.
New Fever coach Stephanie White compared her superstar player to the biggest celebrity in the country during an interview with The Athletic.
“She’s very much Taylor Swift 2.0,” White said.
Clark was named TIME Magazine’s Athlete of the Year after she smashed WNBA records on her way to being named an All-Star and League Rookie of the Year.
The Fever star has had to navigate growing fame and scrutiny off the court after joining the WNBA.
White compared Clark’s ability to handle everything that comes with being a celebrity to pop megastar.
“I think first and foremost, she does an outstanding job of managing it all,” White told The Athletic. “Like, she’s incredibly humble. She understands the big picture. So, she views it as understanding her celebrity, No. 1. But No. 2, she’s a Midwest kid, a Midwest person, and she is who she is. She tries to live her life in an authentic way. But she’s very much Taylor Swift 2.0.”
Caitlin Clark is ready to navigate growing fame
Clark is preparing for her second season with the Fever.
Her new coach said that she and the team wanted to help Clark with the growing demands of superstardom.
“So, I think from my perspective, and from our staff and franchise, it’s how do we help her navigate all of this?” White asked. “How do we help her protect her peace? Because it can be a lot. How can we be a resource for her? It’s a different level now with social media and fan engagement. We want to be a resource and help protect her.”
Clark also has Taylor Swift as a resource to lean on about dealing with fame after the two became friends.
The Fever star attended one of Swift’s Eras Tour concerts in Indianapolis.
Swift and Clark watched a Kansas City Chiefs playoff game together in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium in January.
White said her goal was to keep Clark focused on the basketball court as the team chases a championship.
“From a coaching perspective, keep the main thing the main thing,” White explained. “Help her protect her peace and then help her continue to grow on the basketball court. We let our players know sometimes you gotta minimize the noise around you and focus on what our job is. Our job is to put the best team and the best product on the floor that we’re capable of doing.”
