Caitlin Clark, who was recently named “Athlete of the Year” by *Time Magazine*, is facing a backlash from some figures and communities within the WNBA. Sheila Johnson, owner of the Washington Mystics and co-founder of BET, has publicly opposed the award. She believes that instead of honoring Clark, the award should go to the entire WNBA, as this is a year when many other players’ talents have been highlighted.
Johnson also highlighted media bias against Clark, hinting that race played a role in the award’s selection, and expressed frustration that many talented athletes of color have not received their due recognition.
Sheila Johnson’s statement has sparked a strong backlash, with many criticizing her for turning the issue into a debate about race, rather than celebrating Caitlin Clark’s individual achievements. Clark, a rising star in the WNBA, helped boost the league’s viewership by 48 percent in her first season alone – an unprecedented number.
However, since speaking out in an interview with *Time Magazine* about the concept of “white privilege,” Clark has been criticized by both fans and peers. Some have suggested that she was trying to deflect criticism, but this has only led to further attacks.
In the interview with Sheila Johnson, she also suggested that honoring a single individual like Caitlin Clark was causing “uncomfortable feelings” within the league.
She suggested that *Time Magazine* should honor the entire WNBA and the collective contributions of its players, rather than focusing on one individual. Johnson argued that this could create discord and fuel stories about racism in the WNBA – something she wanted to avoid.
However, critics of Sheila Johnson argue that using race to overshadow individual achievements is unfair. Many fans point out that Caitlin Clark created the “Caitlin Clark effect,” which helped the WNBA achieve unprecedented success.
They feel that Sheila Johnson’s denial of Clark’s award is disrespectful, especially since she has contributed greatly to the development of the league.
In addition, some opinions also point out that the WNBA, despite having existed for nearly 28 years, still relies on sponsorship from the NBA to survive. Therefore, instead of downplaying Clark’s individual achievements, the league should learn to honor outstanding individuals like her to attract more audiences and grow stronger.
The controversy surrounding this issue shows the complexity of the relationship between sports, race, and media, and highlights the existing divisions in the professional sports community.
