A’ja Wilson praises Caitlin Clark for standing up against racist agenda
Caitlin Clark has talked about benefitting from white privilege that A'ja Wilson has always proclaimed as something she battles against.
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WNBA MVP candidates A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark
Ever since Caitlin Clark came into the WNBA, the discourse has centered around how she has gained from being ‘white and straight’. One of the players she has often been compared to is reigning MVP A’ja Wilson. However, a lot has changed since the original narrative started.
At that time, senior NBA figures suggested that WNBA veterans should stop being petty towards Clark. What they meant was there were rumors that the likes of Wilson, a then two-time league MVP and Champion was far more accomplished than the rookie, were asking for deserving players to get all this attention.
After the season ended, the Indiana Fever rookie was adjudged Time Magazine’s Athlete of the Year. While she interviewed for the publication, she mentioned that she does benefit from ‘white privilege’ and wants to uplift black women who are deserving of some recognition.
Now Time Magazine brought in A’ja Wilson as part of their Women of the Year series. When author Lucy Feldman asked the Aces superstar what she thought about Clark receiving a lot of backlash for talking about white privilege, she replied.
It’s powerful to me. As a Black woman in the WNBA, we have our struggles in showcasing who we really are. 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.
A’ja Wilson said
WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson and gymnast Jordan Chiles became fast friends in the lead-up to the 2024 Olympics.
— TIME (@TIME) February 20, 2025
For TIME's annual Women of the Year issue, the athletes reunite for a conversation about a game-changing year in women's sports https://t.co/azDx5uxuax pic.twitter.com/iPixvyBLUx
The 28-year-old talked about the difficulties black women face in society. She understands she too has a privilege that comes from her position as a successful professional athlete. But others don’t and she knows the rest of the country do not want to accept what Caitlin Clark said about ‘white privilege’.
A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark top two in MVP odds
Both A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark are not playing in the upstart Unrivaled League. The Indiana Fever superstar chose to focus on rest and develop her game in the offseason. Whereas the Las Vegas Aces star preferred to focus on her life outside of basketball.
However, last season, both of these women gave basketball fans something to cheer about. Wilson had long staked her claim as the obvious MVP. But later down the line, the rookie had crept up into the race after scintillating performances of her own.
Keeping that in mind, betting company BetMGM has ranked them top two in their MVP odds. Wilson ranks top with a +180 odds of winning and Clark comes in behind her at +240. They have some distance between them and the next two as Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier are also favorites to win it.
But both their teams are about to enter the season with a different dynamic than what they had last season. How they can battle to help their teams win basketball games will determine who comes out on top.
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Joseph Varghese
(2526 Articles Published)