ROOKE: Caitlin Clark Could’ve Been A Hero — Instead She Bent The Knee To Racist Bullies

TIME Magazine nominated WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark as the Athlete of the Year for 2024. And honestly, she deserves it. Clark single-handedly revitalized the WNBA with her competitiveness and athletic ability. She was a class act during the pre-and post-game interviews and drew massive crowds to previously practically empty arenas.

She accomplished all of this while being body slammed and thrown around the court like a ragdoll. Race, of course, played a part in this. It was impossible not to notice. The league is predominately made up of black female athletes. While the rest of the freshman class stars, like Angel Reese, were celebrated, Clark was bullied, beaten, and demonized because she was white.

This foul on Caitlin Clark is 100% not a basketball play.

Absolutely nuts this is still happening. pic.twitter.com/ONeYjFuFjK

— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) August 31, 2024

When Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson was asked whether race played a part in Clark’s popularity, she was quick to say it did.

“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,” Wilson said. “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 [black female athletes] as marketable, so it doesn’t matter how hard I work. It doesn’t matter what we all do as Black women. We’re still going to be swept underneath the rug. That’s why it boils my blood when people say it’s not about race because it is.”

Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson thinks Caitlin Clark is only popular because she’s “white”.

“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. It really is because you can be top notch at what you are as a black… pic.twitter.com/4nQYbCwgSx

— OutKick (@Outkick) May 13, 2024

Clark endured racial bullying the entire season but still managed to win Rookie of the Year and is now TIME’s Athlete of the Year. She earned these accolades fair and square. (ROOKE: Leftist Magazine Champions Dangerous Solution To Solve Military’s Recruitment Problem)

In fact, she won these titles despite everything she went through to get to the top. It was inspirational to watch. In the face of obvious adversity, she put her head down and did the work, which is why her comments in the TIME interview were so disappointing.

Look at this. She’s on the knee all but apologizing for being white and getting attention. The self-flagellation. The “oh pls pay attention to the black players who are REALY the ones you want to celebrate.” Condescending. Fake. Transparent. Sad. https://t.co/cTzk0CTLPn

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) December 10, 2024

“I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege. 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,” Clark said.

Caitlin Clark says there needs to be a better effort to elevate Black women in the WNBA

“I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege. A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league… pic.twitter.com/6RfZ1YIdzS

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 10, 2024

These comments ten years ago, or even just four years ago, would have been lauded as appropriate in polite society. But there has been a vibe shift in America where the constant race-baiting from the left is exhausting and overplayed. No one who isn’t obsessed with race is looking at Clark’s achievements, claiming that it is due to her being white. (ROOKE: ‘Fighting For Women’s Rights’ Is What Got Us Into Transgender Bathroom Mess In The First Place)

Clark is a minority in the league. She didn’t rise to stardom because she was a white athlete. She gained the notoriety because she is an all-around excellent player.

But the bullying she received clearly made its mark. Clark bent the knee to the racists who verbally and physically assaulted her for a year. She gave them what they wanted by “admitting” her popularity was due to her white privilege. She took the easy way out.

Now, instead of being a hero for the next female phenom by ending the racist circus, she gave the bullies permission to do this to her. Clark took the coward’s way out, and the next rising star will pay the price for her weakness.