Caitlin Clark just wrapped up her rookie season in the WNBA with accolades that scream “prodigy.” She’s the undisputed face of women’s basketball, a walking highlight reel, and now—drumroll, please—a headline magnet for a totally different reason. All it took was a little mention of white privilege to turn a TIME interview into a cultural wildfire. Who knew a basketball could spark a sociology debate?
In her now-viral comment, Clark stated:
“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 has kind of been built on them…The more we can appreciate 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.”
Cue the drama. Enter stage right: conservative pastor Corey Brooks, who didn’t just roll his eyes at Clark’s remarks—he brought out the metaphorical flamethrower. Writing for FOX News, Brooks slammed Clark for what he called a tone-deaf take that “stigmatized her fellow Black athletes as inferior.”
Wait, what? Inferior? Pastor, are we reading the same script?
In his scathing response, Brooks argued:
“That is why I have issues with Clark saying the league was built on Black players. No, it was built on players and their talents. There are those of us that would argue that people didn’t show up for Sheryl Swoopes or Lisa Leslie because they were Black, or because the league was too Black.”
Ah, yes, the classic “Why are Black athletes popular if racism exists?” defense. A sermon for the ages. Brooks even invoked Michael Jordan—because if you’re going to derail the conversation, might as well bring out His Airness to back you up.
But Brooks wasn’t the only one ready to take Clark to task. Over at the Washington Mystics’ office, co-owner Sheila Johnson joined the chorus of critics, albeit with a slightly different gripe. Johnson was reportedly incensed that Clark was named TIME’s Athlete of the Year, claiming the entire WNBA deserved the honor instead. Bold move, Sheila. Because nothing screams “celebrating excellence” like saying, “Let’s hand out participation trophies.”
FOX Sports analyst Aaron Torres didn’t hold back on Johnson’s comments, either. In a social media mic-drop, Torres quipped:
“NBA owners didn’t complain when Michael Jordan 10x’ed the value of their franchises. Other fighters didn’t complain when Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather got everyone paid. The people who are running the WNBA are certifiably insane. They really are.”
Translation: Chill out, Sheila. Caitlin Clark being Caitlin Clark is good for everyone.
Now, back to Clark. Whether you agree with her comments or not, it’s hard to argue that she’s using her platform for something bigger than self-promotion. Acknowledging privilege—especially in an industry still figuring out how to balance representation and marketability—isn’t exactly the easy route. But then again, Caitlin’s never been one to play it safe. She’s out here draining three-pointers from half-court, smashing rookie records, and casually igniting debates about race and equity. You know, light work.
Still, you have to wonder: Did Clark’s comments actually offend anyone, or are we just witnessing the latest episode of the outrage Olympics? Because if history’s taught us anything, it’s this—whenever a public figure mentions “privilege,” someone’s going to clutch their pearls so hard they sprain a wrist.
As for the WNBA, they should probably just sit back, relax, and let Clark’s rising star do its thing. After all, she’s already bringing eyeballs, sponsors, and, yes, a little controversy to the league. Isn’t that what you want from your biggest star?
But hey, maybe Pastor Brooks and Sheila Johnson are onto something. Maybe we should all stop caring about who’s saying what and get back to appreciating what makes sports great: dunking on your critics, figuratively or literally. Caitlin Clark’s got both down to an art.
So, here’s a thought: Can we just let the girl play basketball without turning her every syllable into a cultural think piece? Or is that too much to ask?
