WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark is speaking out like she has never spoken before.
After being the subject of cultural debates throughout her rookie season, the Indiana Fever superstar admitted to feeling “privilege” as a White woman.
That was only the first part of her shocking statement that had fans going nuts.
The WNBA phenom was named Time’s Athlete of the Year after she elevated women’s basketball to unprecedented heights.
After she entered the league, several comments were made about Caitlin Clark only receiving the attention and money she gets because she is good at basketball and white.
Players like Angel Reese said there had been “a lot of racism” from Iowa and Indiana Fever fans, while WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson said Clark being White was a “huge thing” when it came to her popularity.
Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington even called out Caitlin Clark for refusing to speak out more on racism.
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She is speaking now.
“I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a White person, there is privilege,” Clark told Time.
Caitlin then went on to praise Black women, saying, “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. I have to continue to try to change that. The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
Caitlin Clark says there needs to be a better effort to elevate Black women in the WNBA
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 10, 2024
“I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege. A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league… pic.twitter.com/6RfZ1YIdzS
Social media couldn’t believe those words came out of her mouth and even some of her own fans started to turn on her.
“Well that was fun while it lasted. That is a good way to tank most of your viewership,” one fan of Caitlin Clark’s statement.
One fan saw it another way: “🎯 I respect what she said. There’s only a few real ones like Eminem that will admit “privilege” can play a factor. It’s NOT everything, you still have to work hard.. but some have to work a bit harder. Not hard to understand.”
Another fan called her a clown: “‘We need to elevate more black women in the WNBA,’ says one of the three white women in the WNBA 🤡”
‘We need to elevate more black women in the WNBA,’ says one of the three white women in the WNBA 🤡
— Jessica 🇺🇸 (@RealJessica05) December 11, 2024
One X user fired back her statement, adding, “Her privilege is her talent, not her skin color. She’s not selling out arenas because she’s white.”
Another fan was also turned off by Caitlin Clark’s statement: “Did she get threatened by the WNBA? This is why I don’t watch professional basketball. No one should apologize for their skin color. They should though apologize for the way they act.”
“She’s gone woke,” one fan stated.
She’s gone woke
— Dr. Phillip Oliver-Holz (@ThePhillipHolz) December 10, 2024
Caitlin Clark Has Had A Dynamic 2024
In her debut season with the Indiana Fever following a stellar career at Iowa, Caitlin Clark shut all of the hate down with her play on the court, which led to her winning the Rookie of the Year award and being named to the All-WNBA first-team.
She became the first Rookie to do so since 2008. Clark also led the Fever to the postseason, somewhere the franchise hadn’t been since 2016.
Clark’s presence in the league took the record-breaking viewership from college to the pros as she drew crowds to arenas around the country.
She was the main focus that helped the growing popularity of the WNBA and women’s college basketball.
