Caitlin Clark brushed aside the controversy surrounding her interview with TIME Magazine this week to soak up some college basketball.
The WNBA superstar was named TIME’s 2024 Athlete of the Year this week after a sensational breakout season in the league that saw her break records.
However, the 22-year-old faced backlash for her interview with the magazine, in which she spoke about the “white privilege” she faced when she entered the competition and ramped up interest.
But Clark put the criticism behind her as she joined her NBA counterpart, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, at the Wisconsin men’s basketball game against Butler.
The pair, along with Haliburton’s girlfriend, have become close friends since Clark’s arrival in Indianapolis earlier this year.
The group became cheerful as they chatted in what appeared to be a private box with reserved seating.
Caitlin Clark was honored earlier this week with TIME’s 2024 Athlete of the Year award
The WNBA star attended a college basketball game with Tyrese Haliburton on Saturday
As part of winning TIME Magazine’s Athlete of the Year, Clark gave an extensive interview in which she discussed many aspects of her fame, including how race has played a role in her status.
The 22-year-old said the WNBA is “built on” black players and that “white privilege exists.”
The comments sparked controversy online, with OutKick founder Clay Travis and Dave Portnoy among others criticizing the Indiana Fever superstar.
Jason Whitlock abandoned his support for Clark in a hysterical meltdown, claiming her comments left him in tears, while conservative activist Riley Gaines also weighed in on the debate.
In the meantime, Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson went on a strange rant about Clark during a recent interview, she claimed her TIME award shouldn’t have gone solely to the Rookie of the Year competition.
Clark found herself at the center of a racing storm during her first season in the WNBA, amid accusations that she was the victim of jealousy and bullying.
Clark won the TIME Award after increasing the popularity of the WNBA. Upon her arrival, the sharpshooter caused a spike in the competition’s viewership and attendance.
Her performances justified the following as she collected an unpresented number and broke standing records.
Before turning pro, Clark built a wide following with the Iowa Hawkeyes, where she led the team to back-to-back title games despite losing both. She became the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft and helped the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
Clark secured Rookie of the Year honors while finishing fourth in the MVP voting.