Caitlin Clark Responds To A'Ja Wilson Diss About The WNBA Rookie's Popularity
Caitlin Clark brushed off the negativity ahead of her WNBA debut following comments made by Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson about her popularity.
The former Iowa Hawkeyes standout sat with reporters on Tuesday to answer some questions ahead of her first professional game with the Indiana Fever. Clark was asked for her reaction to Wilson's comments that her popularity is in part because she's white.
"I think there's opportunities for every single player in women's basketball. I think the more opportunities we can give across the board, that's what's going to elevate women's basketball," Clark said during the press conference, clarifying that she was not aware of Wilson's remark.
"It doesn't need to be one or two players, and I think that even goes back to college. I think we can ... the parity in women's basketball is what's making more people want to come and watch it."
Wilson recently made headlines off the hardwood after saying one main factor in the NCAA all-time leading scorer's enormous popularity was her race.
"I think it's a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it's not about Black and white, but to me, it is," the two-time WNBA MVP told the Associated Press.
"It really is because you can be top-notch at what you are as a Black woman, but yet maybe that's something that people don't want to see ... They don't see it as marketable, so it doesn't matter how hard I work."
The two-time WNBA champion also added that it "boils" her blood when people say that it isn't about race, "because it is."
Clark, the number one pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has been a key figure in the rise of women's basketball's popularity over the past years.
The 22-year-old had a phenomenal stint in college, breaking dozens of NCAA and Hawkeyes basketball records. She is currently the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader; had the most three-pointers in a season for a D1 player, male or female; and was the first player in NCAA history to record three 40-point games, among many other accolades.
Her final collegiate game -- a championship faceoff with the South Carolina Gamecocks -- scored more viewers than the men's finals game -- a first in over four decades.
Her debut against Connecticut Sun on Tuesday was also the most-watched WNBA game in ESPN history, the network said. It had a total of 2.1 million viewers and peaked at 2.3 million.
Clark had 20 points and 10 turnovers in the loss.
Despite the controversy, the Iowa native believes the common end goal for all female basketball players is to further grow the game and "spread the love."
"I think the more you spread the love, show people, show their talents, show their teams, that's just going to continue to elevate it. So, I think that's the biggest thing."
