Caitlin Clark responds to A’ja Wilson’s racial divide concern that Clark created which boiled Las Vegas star’s blood
Caitlin Clark offered her thoughts after Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson expressed concern for a racial discrepancy in the WNBA that has benefitted players like the Fever rookie
Caitlin Clark responded this week to concerns raised by A’ja Wilson about the impact of race on opportunities for women’s basketball players.
Wilson, a two-time MVP, discussed the role Clark’s race played in her rising stardom, adding to the Associated Press that the achievements of Black athletes are “swept under the rug,” but in responding to Wilson’s remarks Clark defended the sport’s meritocratic nature while still expressing a hope for a rising tide to lift all boats.
“I think there’s opportunities for every single player in women’s basketball,” Clark said at a press conference before her WNBA debut this week. “I think the more opportunities we can give across the board, that’s what’s going to elevate women’s basketball.”
“It doesn’t need to be just one or two players, and I think that even goes back to college,” she continued. “The parity in women’s basketball is what’s making more people want to come watch it. I think the more we can spread the love, show people, show their talent, show their teams – that’s just going to continue to elevate it.”
Clark’s stardom emerged from her unparalleled excellence on the court, shattering the NCAA scoring record with audacious 3-point shooting while also leading the college ranks in assists. But revelations of a shoe deal for the Iowa sensation, signed before Clark stepped foot onto a WNBA court, sparked a dialogue on the racial boundaries to becoming a superstar in the league.
Signing an eight-year, $28 million with apparel giant Nike, Clark became just the fifth active WNBA player to secure a signature shoe line, joining Elena Della Donne, Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart. All of these players are white, despite over 60 percent of the league identifying as Black, a discrepancy that furthered Wilson’s frustration.
Wilson has won consecutive titles with Las Vegas ( Image: Getty Images)
“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 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. 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.”
Inroads toward this inequity came in the following weeks, beginning with the announcement of Angel Reese’s shoe deal with Reebok. Reese becomes the only active athlete with a contemporary signature shoe designed by the company and continues a long-standing relationship with Shaquille O’Neal, Reebok’s President of Basketball.
On Monday, the five-time All-Star Wilson was finally able to confirm her own signature pair of kicks after announcing a deal with Nike. The shoe line, titled A’One, is set to debut in 2025 while Wilson’s payment amount has yet to be revealed.
“It’s been incredible working with Nike toward a dream of having my collection, and it really is an honor to take this next step and become a Nike signature athlete,” Wilson said in a release issued by Nike.
“From my logo to the look of the shoe and the pieces throughout the collection, we’ve worked to make sure every detail is perfectly tuned to my game and style.”
