Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark, who this week was named Time magazine’s Athlete of the Year, said she’s experienced privilege “as a white person” in her sport, arguing the league had “kind of been built” on the achievements of black athletes.
The Indiana Fever guard has made a name for herself and the WNBA, pushing the league to newfound popularity in her rookie season. In reflecting on her success, Clark said she “earned every single thing” she worked for. However, she also suggested “there is privilege” that she has also experienced.
Caitlin Clark is TIME's Athlete of the Year https://t.co/WtgLuIIYhb pic.twitter.com/oGDewhUPcB
— TIME (@TIME) December 10, 2024
“A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been black players,” Clark said. “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. I have to continue to try to change that. The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
In May, ABC News’s The View co-host Sunny Hostin said part of Clark’s popularity stemmed from “white privilege” and “pretty privilege,” comments that were rebuffed by Outkick host and womens sports activist Riley Gaines. Following Clark’s newest comments, Gaines expressed disappointment in Clark, who “missed the mark” on her statement while still having “great admiration” for the WNBA player.
“No one was asking for Caitlin Clark to position herself as a right-wing hero,” Gaines wrote on X. “All she needed to do was remain neutral.”
No one was asking for Caitlin Clark to position herself as a right-wing hero. All she needed to do was remain neutral.
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) December 11, 2024
She’s a phenom who inspires countless young girls to play & achieve, so I still have great admiration for her, but she missed the mark on this one.
Other people have similarly expressed disappointment for Clark’s comments.
“Caitlin Clark had to issue this WNBA Land Acknowledgement in order to be allowed in polite company,” DailyWire co-founder and commentator Ben Shapiro wrote on X. “But let’s be real: the WNBA wasn’t built on black women. It was built on NBA men who subsidized that useless league for decades.”
Caitlin Clark had to issue this WNBA Land Acknowledgement in order to be allowed in polite company. But let's be real: the WNBA wasn't built on black women. It was built on NBA men who subsidized that useless league for decades. pic.twitter.com/FlNEWs1clY
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 11, 2024
“Did anyone actually think Caitlin Clark wouldn’t bend the knee?” DailyWire commentator Matt Walsh wrote.
Did anyone actually think Caitlin Clark wouldn’t bend the knee? https://t.co/cMEymimaoW
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) December 10, 2024
“What a disappointment,” said Jenna Ellis, a former attorney for President-elect Donald Trump.
What a disappointment. https://t.co/9TyJ2IGxCd
— Jenna Ellis ???? (@realJennaEllis) December 11, 2024
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Amid the debate earlier this year over whether Clark’s popularity stemmed from privilege, ESPN host Pat McAfee came to the basketball player’s defense, contending people just enjoy watching her play basketball “because of how electrifying she is.” TNT sports analyst Charles Barkley also argued that some women were being “petty” in their hate toward Clark and suggested they should instead be thankful for the attention the Indiana Fever player has brought to the WNBA.
Ahead of the 2024 election, Clark was asked about possibly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential run, as the athlete had liked a social media post from Taylor Swift in which the singer endorsed Harris. In response, Clark did not endorse Harris or Trump and encouraged voters to “educate yourself” on the candidates running for office as well as “the policies that they’re supporting.”