Caitlin Clark finally breaks silence after being hit with a wave of criticism for defending Black players

Caitlin Clark finally breaks silence after being hit with a wave of criticism for defending Black players – Image: Getty

Caitlin Clark has addressed the backlash following her selection as TIME Magazine’s Athlete of the Year, a milestone accompanied by her praise for the contributions of Black players to women’s basketball.

In the feature, Clark credited her idols, including Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper Dawn Staley and her childhood hero Maya Moore, for paving the way for her success. While expressing gratitude for the spotlight on her and her impact on the sport, she emphasized the importance of recognizing the achievements of Black players.

Her remarks, however, drew criticism from some quarters, including commentator Megyn Kelly, who accused Caitlin Clark of “apologizing for being white.”

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At the “A Year in TIME” event on Wednesday, Caitlin Clark responded to the criticism by reaffirming her stance on the need to uplift Black women in basketball.

“I grew up a fan of this league from a very young age. Like, my favorite player was Maya Moore. Like, I know what this league was about. And like I said, like, it’s only been around 25-plus years,” she said.

“I know there’s been so many amazing Black women that have been in this league, and continuing to uplift them, I think, is very important. And that’s something I’m very aware of. And like I said, I try to just be real and authentic and share my truth.”

In her TIME Athlete of the Year article, Clark also acknowledged the visibility she’s brought to the WNBA and stressed the importance of amplifying Black players’ contributions.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

Clark is only the second woman to receive TIME’s Athlete of the Year award, following gymnast Simone Biles, and the second basketball player to earn the honor, after LeBron James.

Caitlin Clark says she has learned how to block out the noise

During the “A Year in TIME” event, Caitlin Clark also addressed how she manages criticism, acknowledging that her status as a women’s basketball star brings scrutiny. She discussed this in her TIME Athlete of the Year feature, explaining how she’s developed the ability to ignore detractors.

“I have a great skill of just blocking it out. I don’t care what people say about me,” she said.

Despite this resilience, Clark expressed frustration about being portrayed as controversial due to the narratives surrounding her.

“I tell people I feel like the most controversial person,” Clark said. “But I am not. It’s just because of all the storylines that surround me. I literally try to live and treat everybody in the same exact respectful, kind way. It just confuses me at times.”

Caitlin Clark’s rookie year in the WNBA was groundbreaking. She earned First Team All-WNBA honors, won Rookie of the Year and set new records in assists and 3-point shooting.