Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 decide within the 2024 WNBA Draft, made probably the most outward political assertion of her younger profession when she favored music celebrity Taylor Swift’s Instagram submit on Tuesday endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris because the Democratic nominee for president.
Clark didn’t publicly endorse Harris however defined to reporters on Wednesday the rationale behind liking Swift’s submit.
“I’ve this wonderful platform, so I feel the largest factor could be to simply encourage individuals to register to vote,” Clark mentioned. “That’s the largest factor I can do with the platform that I’ve and that’s the identical factor Taylor did.”
Clark, 22, harassed the significance of being knowledgeable about candidates earlier than deciding who to vote for.
“Proceed to teach your self on the candidates that we have now, the insurance policies that they’re supporting – I feel that’s the largest factor you are able to do,” Clark mentioned.
Clark, who performs for the Indiana Fever, has been guarded when discussing subjects exterior the sport for many of her rookie WNBA season. In June, she denounced her identify getting used to push agendas of racism and misogyny, calling it “disappointing” and “unacceptable.”
“The ladies in our league deserve the identical quantity of respect, so individuals shouldn’t be utilizing my identify to push these agendas,” Clark mentioned.
Clark liking Swift’s endorsement of Harris isn’t the primary time WNBA gamers have made political statements. In August 2020, a number of WNBA gamers, together with Diana Taurasi, wore T-shirts endorsing Georgia Democratic senate candidate Raphael Warnock, who was operating towards Republican senator Kelly Loeffler, the Atlanta Dream co-owner on the time. Through the 2020 WNBA season, gamers wore warm-up jerseys that learn “Black Lives Matter” and “Say Her Title,” elevating consciousness about racism and police brutality.
As of Thursday, Swift’s Instagram submit had over 10 million likes. Clark, the main rookie scorer within the WNBA, joined a listing of high-profile celebrities to love the submit, which included Oprah Winfrey and four-time WNBA champion Sue Fowl.
(Photograph: Dylan Buell / Getty Pictures)
