Caitlin Clark has achieved a lot in the short time that she has been playing in the WNBA. She was the first draft pick; she is credited with popularising women's basketball since her college career at Iowa; a phenomenon known as the "Caitlin Clark effect" and in her first WNBA season with the Indiana Fever, she continued to drive historic attendance and viewership. However, this can all be trumped by being named Times' 2024 Athlete of the Year.
While this has been a huge honour for both her and the WNBA in general; not everyone is thrilled with the announcement. Fellow players and coaches have come out and criticised the decision.
Washington Mystics co-owner, Sheila Johnson, has expressed her disappointment with the way Clark was singled out for the Times honour, suggesting it wasn’t the right approach.
"It’s not just Caitlin Clark, it’s Angel Reese, as well. We have so much talent out there," she said, arguing that a collective recognition of the league might have been a better choice. Johnson even went as far as to say that by focusing on one player, there could be “hard feelings” within the WNBA community.
What did catch some attention, though, was how Clark acknowledged her privilege in her Time sprofile. She made it clear that she’s aware of the disparities in sponsorships and media coverage between her and fellow Black athletes, especially in a league 'built by Black women.'
She voiced her commitment to pushing for greater representation for them, which Johnson fully praised. "I applaud her for saying it," she remarked. "We’ve got to work together," she continued, stressing that the WNBA’s growth is tied to collaboration.
Pointing fingers at WNBA stars, one fan wrote, "Has A’ny WNBA player supported Caitlin Clark publicly since the TIMES article? This is being talked about on CNN today! You’d think the ✌🏽sisterhood✌🏽 would have her back and stand with her since she defended them right?" "A’ny” was a not-so-subtle jab at A’ja Wilson, suggesting she might’ve taken issue with Clark’s growing stardom. Many fans feel the WNBA often sidelines Clark, and this isn’t the first time online discussions have hinted at a lack of collective support for her."
Another fan didn’t hold back, claiming, "They did the exact opposite. They hated her before she even entered the league. Pure jealousy is what this comes down to." CC came into the WNBA with a massive brand already established, signing a groundbreaking $28 million Nike deal before her rookie season. "
Then came the controversial on-court moments. Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter shoulder-checked her in what was deemed a non-basketball move, later upgraded to a flagrant foul. Geno Auriemma even called it, "junior high stuff." Since then, fans have expressed their fury about their idol being 'targeted' by the players.
Back in June, Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, brushed off claims of a 'target' against Clark, citing a standout 30-point game during the Fever’s win over the Mystics earlier this year and suggesting fans, "just look for the outcome they want." However, fans clearly didn’t buy it.
One fan also penned, "I never understand why A’ja, Stewie, or Diana never speak up. Y’all have been the face of the league. Why not come in as a whole and stand up for Caitlin and help stop the nonsense?"
One fan boldly claimed, "A’ja helped throw gasoline on the fire at the beginning of the season because of CC’s Nike deal. It was then revealed weeks later that A’ja had already signed a deal with Nike the year prior.” Adding to the intrigue, there’s been no sign of a signature shoe for Clark yet, while Nike reportedly prioritises A’ja’s line."
Johnson also implied that Clark’s race may have played a role in attracting a new audience to the WNBA, sparking backlash from fans.
Fans couldn't disagree more with her comments.
"This interview is incredibly disrespectful to Caitlin, all of the players in the WNBA, and the fans," one fan said.
"For the first time, a female basketball player has been named Athlete of the Year—and rightfully so—bringing well-deserved attention to your league. And yet, you’re still unsatisfied? Unbelievable," offered another.
"This seems very ingenuous. I’m sure she went to the Fever/Mystics game (which was a record breaking game) and saw that likely 80% of the fans were in Clark gear. This was never the case for any other player or team," suggested a third.
The WNBA certainly has star players not named Caitlin Clark but none of them caused a dramatic shift in viewership.
Coco Gauff showed her class and sportsmanship by openly supporting Clark, who has made waves in women's basketball. Clark also earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year title and set an NCAA Division 1 women's basketball scoring record. Gauff, previously featured in TIMES' Women of the Year list, expressed genuine joy for Clark's recognition.
The world No. 3 tennis star had a remarkable year herself, beginning with a semi-final appearance at the Australian Open and ending with her first WTA Finals trophy. Gauff also claimed titles in Beijing and Auckland and made her Olympic debut, where she was honoured as Team USA's flag bearer alongside LeBron James. Despite these accomplishments, the Times title eluded her but Gauff remained gracious and supportive.
Coco Gauff has had an extraordinary 2024 season, yet missed out on being named TIMES' Athlete of the Year, an honor that went to Caitlin Clark. Despite the disappointment, Gauff showed her class and sportsmanship by openly supporting Clark, who has made waves in women's basketball. Clark, named TIMES' Athlete of the Year, also earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year title and set an NCAA Division 1 women's basketball scoring record. Gauff, previously featured in Times' Women of the Year list, expressed genuine joy for Clark's recognition.
The world No. 3 tennis star had a remarkable year herself, beginning with a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open and ending with her first WTA Finals trophy. Gauff also claimed titles in Beijing and Auckland and made her Olympic debut, where she was honored as Team USA's flag bearer alongside LeBron James. Despite these accomplishments, the Times title eluded her, but Gauff remained gracious and supportive.
Caitlin Clark's nasty crossovers and superb shooting are some of the reasons why she was named TIMES' Athlete of the Year
Clark's impact on women's basketball has been transformative, drawing record viewerships to the WNBA. Gauff, a former basketball player in her youth, has been following Clark's career since her college days at Iowa Hawkeyes.
She even shared her admiration for Clark with the WTA, saying, "I will say if I could go in another life I would love to play at the same time as Caitlin Clark just to see if I could guard her." Although she admitted it would be a challenge now, Gauff expressed curiosity about how she might fare with training.
Gauff's enthusiasm for women's basketball extends beyond Clark. She eagerly anticipated the 2024 WNBA season, mentioning players like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. "I'm just really excited to see Caitlin Clark's first game, and Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. I'm really excited to see them on the same team too," she said.
Gauff also highlighted the growing traction of women's basketball, saying, "It's very exciting to see the women's game especially in basketball getting as much traction now. They definitely deserve it."
Gauff has even connected with some of these athletes through social media. She mentioned being Instagram mutuals with players like Cameron Brink and having exchanged messages with Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Her support for women's basketball and admiration for Clark showcase her sportsmanship and her passion for empowering female athletes across sports.
To me, this is a classic case of jealously. One of Johnson's players didn't win and now she's moaning that the entire sport wasn't acknowledged. That's just an excuse. She should've put her emotions aside and congratulate Clark on the achievement. After all, this is the first time a WNBA player has been bestowed this honour. This can be the catalyst for further WNBA players to get this honour.