Reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson is known for her careful choice of words, particularly regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding Caitlin Clark’s entry into the league. In the latest Women Of the Year issue of TIME Magazine, Wilson addressed Clark’s previous remarks on the privilege associated with being a white basketball star. Wilson found Clark’s statements to be “powerful” and appreciated the rookie’s courage in advocating for Black players in the WNBA.
“It’s powerful to me. As a Black woman in the WNBA, we have our struggles in showcasing who we really are,” Wilson told TIME. “A lot of agendas get pushed on various platforms that may overshadow us. You work so hard, but you still have to work 10 times harder just to be seen. So when we can have our counterparts speak up, it speaks volumes to me, because they’re in spaces where my path is never supposed to go. It’s crazy that we’re talking about that in 2025, but it’s real. We see those things as Black women. We notice when people stand up and vouch for us.”
Clark faced significant backlash from conservative commentators after her remarks in December, which coincided with her recognition as TIME’s Athlete Of the Year. During this time, she discussed how race influenced the excitement surrounding her—from Iowa to the Indiana Fever. “I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege,” Clark explained. “A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them. The more we can appreciate that, highlight that, talk about that, and then continue to have brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible, I think it’s very important. I have to continue to try to change that. The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
This sparked debate among figures like Megyn Kelly, Dave Portnoy, and Stephen A. Smith, centered on whether Clark was sincere in her comments. Did she genuinely feel undeserving of her status, or was she just engaging in what Kelly termed “self-flagellation”? Fortunately for Clark, she had the last word, reinforcing her stance at a TIME event hosted by Maria Taylor soon after.
“I know [Clark] got a lot of backlash from that, because obviously we live in a world where they don’t want that, and it’s exhausting. But imagine dealing with that and then having to go out and play every single night, constantly worrying, How are they about to downgrade my resume now? What more do I have to do in order to showcase how elite and how serious I take my job? But I also do it with love and passion and fun. A lot of people don’t want to see me at the top, and that’s fine, but I’m gonna be there, because I worked my butt off to get there.”
“I have a privilege in a lot of different ways. I can be in spaces where a lot of other Black women, white women, however you want to see it, are not—but that’s where I’m going to try to use my privilege of being a professional athlete to help others, because that’s what gives me my why. So claps, steps, all the in-between, because I know it’s hard to speak out on that. That’s why I try to speak out as much as I can, but people just see it differently. That’s OK. I just want people to recognize that when someone speaks up on behalf of us as Black women in rooms we may not occupy, it means a lot. It’s a little piece of us in there—they can hold that door open for us to walk through. So I’m grateful.”
Debates about Clark’s impact on the league will undoubtedly continue, as will analyses of her actions. While Kelly may argue that Clark was merely self-deprecating, it’s also possible for Clark to genuinely mean what she expressed. Dissecting anyone’s authentic opinions through magazine articles can be problematic. However, considering the implications of these comments between Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson, Wilson’s response suggests progress is being made in the WNBA.
