Drake Maye was put on the spot with a fun question that quickly crossed sporting boundaries ahead of Super Bowl IX.
Asked which female athlete he would like to receive a touchdown pass from, the Patriots quarterback offered an eye-catching answer.
Maye's response highlighted arguably the most influential athletes in American sports history.
It also revealed a mutual appreciation between him and one of the biggest stars in women's basketball.
When asked to pick a female athlete he would want to catch a touchdown from, Maye did not hesitate to show his appreciation for sporting greatness.
"You know, [I've] gotten into tennis a little more. A lot of respect to Serena Williams ," Maye said, per an NFL TikTok post.
"She's maybe one of the greatest of all time, the greatest female athletes of all time."
Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images
Maye then turned his attention to Caitlin Clark, linking his answer to the NFL playoffs.
"And then I heard Caitlin Clark was pulling for us in the playoffs," he added. "So, hopefully, catching a touchdown from Caitlin Clark would be cool. I know she's a baller."
The comments underlined Maye's growing profile beyond football, while also showing his awareness of elite athletes across different sports.
Clark's admiration for Maye had already been made public before his comments.
The 24-year-old WNBA star spoke about her NFL playoff allegiances during a December appearance on the New Heights podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce.
When discussing which teams they would be supporting, Clark was clear about where her interest lay.
"Honestly, I'm a Drake Maye fan," she said. "I think he has been incredible, and I think the Patriots are, I mean… I'll probably be pulling for the Patriots."
The exchange highlighted a genuine crossover moment between two young stars operating at the top of their respective sports.
