Caitlin Clark being ‘White and Straight’ reason for Iowa star’s fame claims Jemele Hill

Caitlin Clark has been getting unprecedented levels of fame and endorsements in the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark being ‘White and Straight’ reason for Iowa star’s fame claims Jemele Hill

Jemele Hill believes Caitlin Clark is getting all the fame in the WNBA because she's White and straight, unlike other established superstars

Caitlin Clark is lighting up the WNBA as she is continuing to find her rhythm and improving her game. She has been playing in front of packed crowds ever since she became a sensation with the basketball. That has continued in the professional league, bringing the spotlight to the national stage.

However, she has also had her fair share of critics. None bigger than reporter turned analyst cum podcast host Jemele Hill.

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In an article with the Los Angeles Times, Hill had a strong opinion of why Clark is getting all this attention.

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We would all be very naive if we didn’t say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity. While so many people are happy for Caitlin’s success, including the players, this has had such an enormous impact on the game.
Caitlin Clark said

Hill suggested that marketing companies and the league have not looked at Black WNBA superstars the way they look at Clark. She believes the hype surrounding Caitlin Clark is because she is White and Straight, unlike most of her peers.

It’s not jealousy. It’s just the fact that in our society, Black women are often erased from the picture. Coke and Pepsi and all these other brands didn’t come running for Cheryl Miller. There’s plenty of room to highlight and celebrate Caitlin Clark’s popularity while also discussing ways in which to not erase Black women from a league that they have built and continue to build.
Caitlin Clark added

Jemele Hill’s point has some logic. The league was built on the foundations of the likes of Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Candace Parker and most recently A’ja Wilson. Unlike Caitlin Clark, these women were or are established superstars of the game. But never received the recognition.

Jemele Hill also thinks that companies and the league want to promote Clark as she fits the bill of what their audience would like to associate with. She believes that Clark’s race and sexual orientation have played a part in this hype.

Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever loses 5th straight despite valiant effort

The Seattle Storm are the newest super team in the WNBA, boasting the likes of superstars Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jewell Loyd. Therefore, tonight’s matchup would be difficult even if the Storm themselves are learning to play with each other. However, Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever put up a valiant effort to go toe to toe with the Storm.

However, towards the dying seconds, the younger squad showed their inexperience when the much more experienced Storm forced turnovers and missed shots.

Clark led the Indiana Fever with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists each. More importantly, she had control over turnovers for much of the game. Only to commit three of them in the fourth quarter.

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