Caitlin Clark has been accused of being ‘fake’ for being ‘all but apologetic’ about her race after the WNBA star admitted she had benefited from white ‘privilege’.
The basketball superstar was named TIME Athlete of the Year for 2024 following her record-breaking rookie season with the Indiana Fever.
Clark has become one of the biggest stars in women’s sports, but after winning the award she said the WNBA is “built on” black players and that “being a white person has privilege.”
Her comments have drawn criticism in some quarters, most notably from commentator and podcaster Megyn Kelly, who complained about Clark’s “self-flagellation.”
“She’s down on her knee and almost apologizing for being white and getting attention. The self-flagellation,” Kelly wrote on social media.
“The “oh pls pay attention to the black players who are REALLY the ones you want to celebrate.” Self-righteous. Fake. Transparent. Sad.’
Caitlin Clark has been named TIME Athlete of the Year following her record-breaking WNBA season
Megyn Kelly accused the WNBA star of being fake for “almost apologizing” for her race
Clark found herself at the center of a racing firestorm during her first season in the WNBA, amid accusations that she was the victim of jealousy and bullying.
In one moment that turned heads across the country, the Fever star was pushed to the ground by Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter.
Meanwhile, some figures also claim that black players are not getting the recognition they deserve.
“It doesn’t matter how hard I work,” A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces said in May.
“No matter what we do as black women, we still get swept under the rug.”
Clark said this week that “the more we can uplift black women, that will be a beautiful thing.”
“I want to say that I have earned everything, but as a white person I have privileges,” she emphasized.
“A lot of the players in the league who have been really good have been black players. This league is kind of built on them.”