Earlier this week Caitlin Clark was named Time magazine’s “Athlete of the Year” following her record-setting rookie season in the WNBA.

The Indiana Fever star earned Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the All-WNBA first team, something that hasn’t been done since 2008. Just a few months earlier, she set the NCAA all-time scoring record during her tremendous career at Iowa, where she lead to the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national title games.

Her first season in the WNBA saw an unprecedented rise in viewership, which increased 48% year-over-year according to a report from CNN. Time’s decision to name Clark “Athlete of the Year” rubbed one WNBA owner the wrong way, despite all that she’s achieved in the sport over the past few years.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts to a call at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“This year, something clicked with the WNBA and it’s because of the draft of players that came in. It’s not just Caitlin Clark, it’s (Angel) Reese (as well). We have so much talent out there that has been unrecognized. I don’t think we can just pin it on one player,” Washington Mystics co-owner Sheila Johnson said.

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.