Caitlin Clark was named Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year for 2024 and recently sat down for a feature interview with the publication. In it, Clark spoke on a wide variety of topics which included her stating that she has benefited to an extent from white privilege and that Black women in the WNBA need to be elevated.
“I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege,” Clark said. “A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them.
“The more we can appreciate that, highlight that, talk about that, and then continue to have brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible, I think it’s very important,” Clark added. “I have to continue to try to change that. The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
There is no denying that it would be great for the WNBA if the Black players were elevated. They make up approximately 70% of the league but even the very best of them don’t necessarily see a lot of brands and companies invest in them.
A’ja Wilson, who has won three MVPs and two DPOYs, is one of the few who gets it, but unlike Clark, it’s taken forever for her to get to that point. Did race play a part in that? Well, I’m sure many would feel that’s the case.
I’d say being white might have opened some more doors for Clark but the only reason she was in the position to walk through them was her excellence on the court. The 22-year-old averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game for the Indiana Fever in the 2024 season.
Clark was named Rookie of the Year, made the All-Star team, and finished fourth in voting for MVP. She was simply spectacular and helped elevate the WNBA to new heights. The league has had plenty of white stars over the years, but none of them had the impact she has had and that speaks to her greatness.
Caitlin Clark Did Not Feel Like She Was Being Targeted In Her Rookie Season
Clark took a fair few hits from opponents during her rookie season, leading to talk about her being targeted. She doesn’t like that was the case, though.
“I never thought I was being targeted,” Clark said. “Obviously, that shouldn’t ever happen within a game. But basketball is physical. Your emotions can get the best of you. My emotions have gotten the best of me many times.”
One moment, in particular, stands out when you talk about her being targeted. On June 1, Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter gave a cheap shot to Clark and it appeared like Angel Reese was applauding her teammate for the hit. That incident was brought up to Clark in this interview and she didn’t feel like Reese was cheering on Carter for hitting her.
“I don’t even know if she really knew what happened,” Clark stated. “Honestly, I don’t think she was cheering because somebody hit me. I really don’t think that would be the case. I hope not.”
Well, only Reese knows the answer to that question. I would give her the benefit of the doubt like Clark did here but I’m sure many wouldn’t. These two rivals will be facing off very early in the 2025 season, as the Sky take on the Fever on May 17, 2025, the second day of the campaign.
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