TIME’s Athlete of the Year reveals gift, personal note she got from Taylor Swift, who called her ‘inspiring’

In 2024, Taylor Swift was TIME’s Person of the Year. And game recognizes game, we guess — turns out Taylor’s a big fan of TIME’s 2025 Athlete of the Year. And no, we don’t mean Travis Kelce.

The title actually went to WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, who tells TIME that she went to back-to-back Eras Tour shows in Indianapolis in November, where she met Taylor’s mom, Andrea, and Travis, and received many friendship bracelets and photo requests from fans. 

“I thought people would be so in their own world, ready to see Taylor. And it was just completely the opposite,” says Clark.

Taylor also arranged for Caitlin to be given four bags of Eras Tour merchandise, and included a personal note calling her “inspiring.” According to Clark, Taylor wrote that “Trav and I” were excited to see her play with her team, the Indiana Fever, and even invited Clark to attend a Chiefs game with her.

“I wasn’t even a Swiftie before going,” Clark admits in a video for TIME. “But I think after seeing, like, the way she performs for three hours straight and the whole production, the outfits she wears, the way she doesn’t stop singing, dancing, like, it’s just incredible. You’re kind of just in awe after you leave.”

“So maybe I am a full Swiftie now, I guess!”