TIME Names Caitlin Clark Athlete of the Year: Talks Unrivaled, Olympics and Angel Reese Controversy
It’s that time of year when we all begin to reflect on the year in sports. Accolades and recognition is handed out to athletes that helped mold and change our perception of sports culture forever. And one iconic journal is honoring the biggest figure in women’s basketball. On Tuesday, TIME Magazine Names Caitlin Clark Athlete of the Year. In a special edition in which the Indiana Fever superstar discusses the Unrivaled league, the upcoming summer Olympics and the Angel Reese controversy from her college days.
Whenever TIME makes their annual selection, sports enthusiasts always want to know, why? Why is this player worthy of acknowledgment? Well, TIME made its reasons regarding Clark clear. And the list is immense. The renown magazine states,
“When asked to define her year in one word, Clark chooses ‘historic.’
In February, she set the new NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball scoring record. A few weeks later, she broke Hall of Famer Pete Maravich’s mark, making her the top scorer overall. Her college championship game between Iowa and South Carolina averaged 18.9 million viewers, becoming the second most watched women’s sporting event, outside the Olympic Games, in the history of U.S. television, with American viewership outdrawing that of each game of the 2024 NBA Finals and World Series.
And for the first time ever, more people tuned in for the women’s NCAA championship than the men’s. As a pro, she set a rookie record for most three-pointers made in a season, while also setting new all-time WNBA marks for most assists in a season and most assists in a single game. She signed a reported $28 million endorsement deal with Nike, the largest ever for a women’s basketball player. Clark’s Fever appeared in the most watched WNBA games ever on ABC, CBS, ESPN, and ESPN2. The WNBA attracted an all-time record of more than 54 million unique viewers across all its national broadcasting platforms during the regular season, and the league’s overall attendance jumped 48% year over year to its highest level in more than two decades.
The Fever broke the WNBA record for home attendance by a single franchise, and Fever games were moved to NBA and NHL arenas in Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., to accommodate the hordes of fans, many donning Clark’s No. 22 jersey. The Washington Mystics-Fever regular-season finale set a new WNBA single-game attendance record of 20,711.”
Wow. Yes, in 2024, Caitlin Clark had herself a year. And she is very deserving of all the flowers she is receiving. She IS the Athlete of the Year.
Caitlin Clark Covers TIME Magazine
TIME really gets into the nitty-gritty with Caitlin. Their full feature on Clark is a 30 minute read. Now if you have the time to look it over, do it. It’s an awesome dive into the real Caitlin Clark.
However, we will just give you a few morsels. Some interesting tidbits that Caitlin commented on briefly. Let’s start with the Unrivaled league. Many cheered at the prospect of Clark not playing in the new women’s basketball league; others were somewhat disappointed that she’s unavailable this year. Clark cleared everything up stating,
“I didn’t rule out doing it in the future, but this year is just not the best for me,” she says. She thinks spending the winter lifting weights and working solo in the gym will elevate her game. “It’s going to be good for me to do my own thing and have my own space,” she says. “I kind of want to just stay out of the spotlight.”
Can’t fault an athlete who wants to do nothing but improve themselves. Caitlin wants a championship. She wants a gold medal. And she understands only sweat, focus and hard work is going to help her achieve such things.
TIME Names Caitlin Clark Athlete of the Year: Talks Unrivaled, Olympics and Angel Reese Controversy
Speaking of the Olympics. This year’s Games was also a hot topic in regards to Caitlin. Many felt the snub was a missed opportunity to grow the league and that Clark deserved to be on the team.
Caitlin did want to go to Paris. However, she now has her sights on Los Angeles. Regarding the Paris disappointment and the next Summer Games, Clark comments,
Making the 2028 team “is a huge, huge goal,” she says, and she believes being left off the Paris roster “will definitely motivate me my entire career.” She calls her exclusion a “blessing.”
They were like, ‘Yeah, we haven’t selected you. Obviously, we think the world of how you play and blah, blah, blah.’
I don’t want to be there because I’m somebody that can bring attention. I love that for the game of women’s basketball. But at the same time, I want to be there because they think I’m good enough.
I don’t want to be some little person that is kind of dragged around for people to cheer about and only watch because I’m sitting on the bench. That whole narrative kind of upset me. Because that is not fair. It’s disrespectful to the people that were on the team, that had earned it and were really good. And it’s also disrespectful to myself. ”
Well, with the efforts and time in gym Clark is putting in right now. We are confident that the next Olympic selections will go much differently for her. She will no doubt be on the 2028 squad.
This year’s team did bring home the gold medal. Featuring a lineup of WNBA champs including A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Yet, Team USA hopes to have an even stronger roster as the next Olympics will be played here at home.
Caitlin Clark is TIME’s Athlete of the Year
The way Clark handled the Olympics and other challenges this year shows she’s a team player. She wants what is best for all. And works extremely hard to elevate herself, and everyone around her. Including all her fellow colleagues in the WNBA.
There was a time the league did not exist. Before 1996-1997, women ballers had nowhere really to go in terms of professional sports. They were done after college. But the W changed all of that. Clark understands that many walked before her, so that she can now run full speed ahead.
The path that was carved out for today’s stars was a long, arduous journey. And like in the NBA, many of the ‘early stars’ did not have as many lucrative opportunities. However, Caitlin is ready to continue the fight. To pave the way for WNBA players currently playing and the next generation. She tells TIME,
“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 and Reese Respect Each Other’s Game
And last but not least, Clark also touched on her and Angel Reese. No, they are not besties. But they have known each other since they were very young and have a ton of respect for each other’s talent and abilities. Plus, Clark can’t seem to wrap her head around all the negativity that surrounds the pair. Caitlin reveals,
“I don’t get that at all. We’re not best friends, by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another. Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?”
She also downplays Reese’s “rivalry inducing” gesture from college. “I didn’t think it was taunting,” says Clark. “It really didn’t bother me. It’s just like, ‘Why don’t you talk about them winning? Or the incredible run that we went on that nobody would have thought we would have ever gone on?’ The only thing people cared about was this controversy that was really fabricated and made up, and then that has continued to be the case ever since.
I never thought I was being targeted,” says Clark on college and the WNBA. “Obviously, that shouldn’t ever happen within a game. But basketball is physical. Your emotions can get the best of you. My emotions have gotten the best of me many times.
A lot of people that wanted to have opinions on what was happening probably didn’t even watch half the games that they were trying to have a take on.”
Well, the female Larry Bird/Magic Johnson angle sells. Which is probably why it has continued. However, it is clear that Clark isn’t with the negative spin. Instead she is focused on the positives.
The league is growing. Her career is flying high. And her talents and grace are shining bright.
Therefore, all that is left for us to say… is congratulations on being named Athlete of the Year Caitlin. 2024 was YOUR year. And you truly are one-of-a-kind.
**Want Even More Sports, News, Hot Takes, Stats as well as Athlete Celebrity Sighting Updates; Insights as well as Trends? Well, be sure to join all of us Sports Feens over on Youtube to get an additional sports fix; and also don’t forget to check out all of our new Podcast topics and episodes. Plus, get fast highlights and trivia daily by following us on TikTok. Just Click HERE**
Thoughts on TIME Names Caitlin Clark Athlete of the Year: Talks Unrivaled, Olympics and Angel Reese Controversy!? Well let’s connect then you Feen! We are always around on social media posting as well as chatting away. And we would love to hear some POV from you. Therefore, join the discussion and talk all things Sports Feen; athletics as well as breaking industry news related with us by dropping a comment or two. Get into our comment section on YT; or also hit us up on our TikTok page or tweet us @SportsFeen.
