Former President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance on Friday, July 24, 2026, greeting WNBA All-Stars before their practice at the newly opened Apnews in Chicago. Walking in through a side door, Obama surprised the 22 All-Stars who were gathered for practice ahead of the league’s marquee weekend events.
Barack Obama Surprises WNBA All-Stars at New Presidential Center
Addressing the players directly, Obama commended the athletes on their professional growth. According to Apnews coverage, the former president told the group: “Some of you I’m meeting for the first time, all of you are extraordinary. The way the game has been growing lately and the way the game has been picking up people have been paying attention to your excellence. … It has been a sight to see.”
Interactions With League Stars and Court Appearance
Following his remarks, Obama spent approximately 10 minutes greeting players, shaking hands, and posing for photographs. Among those he interacted with were Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese, who took a selfie with the former president, and WNBA star USA Today of the Indiana Fever. Clark later called in teammates Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell to join them for a joint photo.
Clark told reporters that she bonded with Obama over the intense media exposure they have both navigated during their careers, noting that he offered supportive advice about dealing with public fame at a young age. Obama also gave a shoutout to Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson during his talk.
After the photo sessions concluded, Obama stepped onto the facility’s regulation-sized basketball court and briefly chatted with New York Liberty star Jonquel Jones, dropping into a defensive stance for a few seconds. Obama noted that he no longer plays 5-on-5 basketball to protect his Achilles tendon, though he mentioned breaking in the center’s court with a game of “horse.”
WNBA Milestone and Presidential Center Context
The appearance marked a significant milestone as the Apnews welcomed its first professional sports league to utilize its basketball court since the facility opened in June. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert highlighted the historical significance of the visit during the league’s 30th season celebration.
It’s fitting for our 30th anniversary that we’re here as the first sports league to play in the Obama Presidential Center,
Engelbert said, praising Obama’s lifelong ties to basketball and his history of inspiring people to dream big. Many of the participating players had previously visited the White House during Obama’s presidency after winning WNBA championships or NCAA titles.
Changemaker Day and Community Engagement
In addition to visiting the WNBA players, Obama surprised nearly 100 high school freshman girls attending the third annual Chicago Sun-Times event at the center’s Elie Wiesel Forum. Popping into a panel discussion about perseverance, Obama spoke about resilience, growing up, and navigating social pressures.
While Obama participated heavily in Friday’s pre-event activities, he stated that he would be unable to attend the actual WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday due to a prior engagement with former First Lady Michelle Obama. The weekend’s events continue across Chicago, anchored by the All-Star Game at the United Center.
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