“ Historical. » This is the word chosen by Caitlin Clark to qualify, from TIMEhis past year. As if to confirm the feeling displayed by the Fever player, the famous magazine has just awarded her the title of “Athlete of the Year” 2024.
To justify it, the media relies on the numerous accomplishments of the rookie of the year, her personal records, her $28 million contract signed with Nike – the largest ever signed by a female basketball player – without forget about the number of television audience records that she helped generate in the WNBA, after becoming the best scorer in the history of the NCAA.
“ I was able to captivate so many people who had never watched women's sports, let alone women's basketball, and turn them into fans », she blurted out while TIME mentioned other phenomena of women's sport like Serena Williams or Simone Biles. But ” the Clark phenomenon remains unprecedented “.
“Controversial” in spite of itself
Such a level of attention, on the women's championship and her, that the phenomenon has also generated its share of criticism. To the point that the boss of the league, Cathy Engelbert, who felt that she and Angel Reese had to “ ignore » what the fans say too vehemently, had to apologize.
The players' union felt that she had not responded clearly “to the question concerning racism, misogyny and harassment suffered by female players “.
“ I tell people I feel like I'm the most controversial person. I'm not like that. It's just because of all the stories surrounding me. I literally try to live and treat everyone with the same respect and kindness. It bothers me sometimes », says Caitlin Clark today.
Except that this honorary distinction is the opportunity to put a coin back into the machine. His title notably earned him criticism from Washington Mystics co-ownerSheila Johnson.
“ It took the WNBA almost 28 years to get to the point where we are today. This year, something clicked within the WNBA, thanks to the Draft and the players who arrived. It's not just Caitlin Clark, it's (Angel) Reese, there is so much talent that has gone unrecognized. I don't think we can blame this on just one player. “, she assures.
Highlighting the entire WNBA
All the spotlight attracted to Caitlin Clark is annoying in a league that has had to fight in anonymity for so long. “ I want to be very diplomatic about this, and this is simply the way the media approaches the issue of race. I feel really bad because I've seen so many players of color who are just as talented and never get the recognition they should get. », Regrets Sheila Johnson again.
She would have preferred that TIME put on the cover: “ The WNBA is the league of the year. » « Because if we stop at just one player, we create resentment and we start hearing stories of racism in the WNBA, and I don't want to hear that. »
In 2019, for the first Athlete of the Year election, TIME honored the women's soccer team, before crowning LeBron James (2020) then Simone Biles (2021), Aaron Judge (2022) and Lionel Messi (2023).
For her part, Caitlin Clark believes to TIME that she deserved all the success, without forgetting those that preceded her and who did not obtain the desired media attention. “ As a white person, there are privileges. A lot of the really good players in the league were black. This league was somehow built thanks to them. We need to highlight it, highlight it, talk about it, and continue to ensure that brands and companies invest in these players who have made this league incredible, it's very important. I have to keep trying to change that. The more we can highlight black women, the better. »
