5 MINUTES AGO: Angel Reese Coach Kim Mulkey’s JAW DROPPING Caitlin Clark Statement Changes Things!

.
.
.
Play video:

Caitlin Clark on ‘liking’ Taylor Swift’s Harris endorsement: ‘Educate yourself’

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark set the record straight after her Instagram “like” on Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Vice President Harris stoked speculation about her political beliefs.

Clark was among a series of public figures — and more than 10.2 million others — to hit the like button on Swift’s Instagram post announcing her support for Harris and vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Tuesday night.

When asked by reporters Wednesday about the post and if she plans to endorse Harris herself, Clark said, “I have this amazing platform.” The WNBA player boasts nearly 3 million followers on Instagram.

“So, I think the biggest thing would be just encourage people to register to vote. I think for myself, the second time I can vote in an election at age 22, I could vote when I was 18,” she said. “So, I think, do that. That’s the biggest thing I can do with the platform that I have, and that’s the same thing Taylor did.”

In a message to her more than 280 million Instagram followers, Swift encouraged her followers to do their “research” and reminded them to register to vote ahead of the November election.

Clark shared a similar message, urging voters to “educate” themselves on this year’s nominees.

“Continue to educate yourself on the candidates that we have, the policies that they’re supporting — I think that’s the biggest thing you can do,” she said. “And that’s what I would recommend to every single person that has the opportunity in our country.”

Clark, this year’s No. 1 WNBA draft pick, emerged as a national star over the past two years with a record-breaking college career at the University of Iowa capped by two deep runs in the NCAA Tournament.

The superstar athlete has also found herself mentioned in political conversations at times. Earlier this year, Clark said it was “disappointing” that online users were using her name to post racist and misogynist comments targeted at other WNBA players.

In Swift’s endorsement, posted just moments after Tuesday night’s presidential debate between Harris and former President Trump, the “Love Story” singer said she is backing the vice president because “she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.”

“I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos,” Swift wrote to her more than 280 million Instagram followers. Harris’s campaign quickly seized on the support, using the celebrity endorsement in their fundraising emails.

The pop star also cited fake images generated by artificial intelligence that suggested she was supporting Trump as a reason for endorsing the Democratic nominee. Swift signed her message, “Childless Cat Lady,” a jab at GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance’s (R-Ohio) past comments attacking Harris and other prominent Democrats.

More than 330,000 visitors flocked to vote.gov as of Wednesday by way of Swift’s endorsement, the General Services Administration told The Hill.

WNBA star Caitlin Clark explains why she liked Taylor Swift’s post endorsing Kamala Harris

Caitlin Clark brings the ball up the court during a WNBA game against the Chicago Sky.
Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

CNN — 

WNBA star Caitlin Clark hinted at her political beliefs ahead of this year’s US election by liking a social media post from Taylor Swift endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, but she stopped short of endorsing a candidate when asked by reporters on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Swift ended speculation about whether she would endorse a particular candidate ahead of November’s election by telling her Instagram followers that she would be voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Clark was one of more than 10 million people to like the post but stopped short of formally endorsing Harris herself.

“I have this amazing platform, so I think the biggest thing would be to just encourage people to register to vote,” Clark told reporters on Wednesday, when asked about her decision to like the post.

“That’s the biggest thing I can do with the platform that I have and that’s the same thing Taylor (Swift) did.

“Continue to educate yourself on the candidates that we have, the policies that they’re supporting – I think that’s the biggest thing you can do. And that’s what I would recommend to every single person that has the opportunity in our country.”

Clark has become one of the biggest stars in the league in her rookie campaign.
Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Since bursting into the WNBA following her remarkable college career, Clark has had to navigate the challenges that come with being such an influential figure.

Related articleWNBA star Caitlin Clark says people weaponizing her name is ‘disappointing’

Earlier this year, the 22-year-old said it was “disappointing” to see people using her name to push their own agendas, especially when it comes to racism and misogyny.

This, though, appears to be the first indication of Clark’s political leanings ahead of the presidential election.

The WNBA and its players have regularly engaged with societal and political issues. At this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, Team USA’s women’s basketball team emphasized their endorsement of Harris’ presidential bid before going on to win gold in a dramatic final against France.

Women’s basketball players have also had influential voices in key elections before.

In 2020, the Atlanta Dream protested against the team’s then co-owner – then Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was running for reelection against Rev. Raphael Warnock – over her opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement. That race ended up going to a run-off and Warnock defeated Loeffler. He’s now serving as a senator from Georgia.