WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark’s rise fuels debate on “privilege”

Caitlin Clark's success in women's basketball has sparked debates about the role of societal advantages in shaping public perception and media coverage.

📸: Matt Kryger / WNBA

Caitlin Clark has become a phenomenon in the world of women’s sports, captivating millions of viewers at the women’s NCAA tournament, the WNBA draft, and Indiana Fever basketball games. But while her remarkable talent and widespread popularity have propelled her into the spotlight, her ascension to stardom has ignited debates about whether societal advantages may have contributed to her success.

Clark's unprecedented rise in women's basketball has been nothing short of spectacular. From drawing massive TV audiences to her college games to signing historic sponsorship agreements with Nike and Wilson, she has become a trailblazer in the sport.

Yet, Clark's journey is not without controversy. While she has undoubtedly broken barriers and shattered records, her success has also sparked debates about representation and equity within the WNBA. Critics point to factors such as her race, sexuality, and background that may have bolstered her appeal in the eyes of the public.

Former ESPN commentator Jemele Hill told the LA Times she believes Clark's identity as a white, straight woman from Iowa aligns with societal norms and narratives, making her success more palatable to mainstream audiences and likely played a role in Clark's meteoric rise.

“We would all be very naive if we didn’t say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity,” Hill said. Her stance sympathizes with Clark, who didn’t ask to be a part of this narrative, while acknowledging the double standards exerted on different women in society.

The issue was discussed on The View, where host Sunny Hostin raised the existence of "privilege" in shaping public perception.

“I do think that there is a thing called pretty privilege. There is a thing called white privilege. There is a thing called tall privilege. We have to acknowledge that,” Hostin said on the show. “Now Caitlin Clark is beginning this money, these sponsorships, we hope, into the league, and other players will benefit from it. But I do think that she is more relatable to people because she’s white, because she’s attractive, and unfortunately, there still is that stigma against the LGBTQ+ community.”

Hostin received pushback online and from her co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, who said that her support for Clark was solely based on her performance and not influenced by her race. Griffin expressed her newfound admiration for the WNBA, attributing it to Caitlin Clark's captivating playing style and describing her as entertaining to watch.  

Nicole Melton of the Laboratory for Inclusion and Diversity in Sport at the University of Massachusetts acknowledged that Clark “fits a very comfortable narrative” for a lot of people in the United States.

“She comes from the heartland. She’s an amazing talent,” Melton said. “She’s also a white, straight woman, right? There’s not a lot of things that would make people feel uncomfortable with that person being successful.”

WNBA star A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces defended Clark, saying the WNBA’s number one draft pick is “learning and growing like everyone else. I feel like people don't give her a chance.” At the same time, Wilson also raised questions about the challenges faced by black athletes and disparities in media coverage.

“I think a lot of people may say it's not about Black and white, but to me, it 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.”

Despite the controversies surrounding her, Clark remains focused on advocating for opportunities for all players in women's basketball. She recognizes the importance of inclusivity and diversity in elevating the sport and is committed to driving positive change.

When asked about Wilson’s comments, Clark said “There’s opportunities for every single player in women’s basketball. The more opportunities we can give across the board, that’s what’s going to elevate women’s basketball.”

Clark has plenty of supporters in the debate. Sports anchor Sage Steele, host of the Sage Steele Show, offered her support for Clark on X, posting, “Caitlin Clark...Tune out the idiots. These expert race baiters are pathetic...and now, they’re so desperate they’re actually hating on her because she’s NOT a lesbian?! Please stop. Please just celebrate the fact that Caitlin is helping EVERYONE in the WNBA. Go, girl.”