Caitlin Clark has maintained that she benefits from ‘white privilege’ amid her WNBA success, despite previously suffering severe backlash to her previous comments on the issue.
The Indiana Fever star first addressed the topic of race in the WNBA in December when she was named TIME Magazine’s Athlete of the Year, acknowledging the ‘white privilege’ that fell her way as she entered the league and drove up the interest levels.
The 23-year-old faced criticism over her comments at the time but that hasn’t deterred her as she doubled down on the stance in her episode on David Letterman’s Netflix show, ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.’
‘I definitely have privilege,’ she said, via Fox News. ‘I’m obviously White but I think… I’m somebody that grew up a huge fan of this league. I grew up watching this league, going to games, supporting this league. So, I know where this league comes from.
‘A lot of Black women that grew up making this league what it is. That’s kind of the shoulders that we stand on. So, I think that was something I’m very aware of and something I’m very thankful for. And they definitely deserve all the credit and the more we can give credit to them, the better. I’m very aware of that and I know that and I think there is responsibility in acknowledging that.’
Letterman questioned whether Clark believed, as many do on social media, that she is being targeted because of her race.
Caitlin Clark has maintained that she benefits from ‘white privilege’ amid her WNBA success
The 23-year-old is pictured with Chicago Sky star Angel Reese (left) at last year’s draft
‘I don’t think I was being targeted,’ Clark said.
Last year, as part of winning TIME Magazine’s Athlete of the Year, Clark gave a wide-ranging interview discussing many parts of her rise to fame, including how race has played a role in her status.
Clark said the WNBA has ‘been built on’ black players and that ‘as a white person, there is privilege‘.
The comments sparked controversy online with the likes of OutKick founder Clay Travis and Dave Portnoy criticizing the Indiana Fever superstar.
Jason Whitlock abandoned his support of Clark in a hysterical meltdown, claiming her comments left him in tears, while conservative activist Riley Gaines also weighed in on the debate.
Meanwhile, Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson went on a weird rant about Clark during a recent interview, claiming her TIME award should not have gone to just the league Rookie of the Year.
Upon her arrival, the sharpshooter inspired a spike in the league’s viewership and attendance numbers.
Clark appeared on David Letterman’s Netflix show, ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction’
Her performances warranted the following as she racked up 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 the Rookie of the Year honor while finishing fourth in MVP voting.
But issues surrounding her popularity have continued as the WNBA prepares to enter its 2025 season.
Clark and the Fever are set to have 41 of their games nationally televised to satisfy fans’ demand to catch the Iowa product.
Yet, the scheduling led four-time All-Star Napheesa Collier to question why other teams, such as the reigning champion the New York Liberty, hadn’t also received increased exposure.
“Obviously, people want to watch Caitlin play, and you have to put the people on TV that people want to see. But, at the same time, there are stars all over the league, and you want good basketball, as well,” Collier said on ESPN last month.
“Obviously, Indiana … will be a great team, but to not have the defending champs on TV more, I think it’s kind of crazy.”