INDIANAPOLIS — Athletes often talk in general terms as a defense mechanism. Rather than delve deeper into a potentially controversial topic, or even address the issue, they provide non-answers, using clichés and pre-programmed talking points to keep themselves at arm’s length.
Part of me would like to believe that’s it Caitlin Clark did Thursday morning when I asked her if she was bothered by the fact that her fans were using her name as a weapon in the culture wars dividing the country. THE Indiana feverThe Starguard has not closed the door on the subject; she even refused to open it.
“No,” she said. “I do not see it. I do not see it. That’s not where my focus is. My focus is here and on basketball. This is where it needs to be, this is where it’s been, and I’m just trying to get better every day.
I asked #IndianaFeverCaitlin Clark’s directly regarding her name being used as a weapon for racism/misogyny (as Dijonai Carrington alluded to):
” It’s disappointing. … Everyone in our world deserves the same respect. The women in our league deserve the same respect. » pic.twitter.com/gyAWBqGG8c
–James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 13, 2024
Not surprisingly, Clark initially tried to avoid the subject. He’s a rookie struggling to find his way on a new team in a new league, in an era where the shots that fell so regularly in college now miss the target with increasing frequency. Instead of being the go-to guy, which has contributed to her massive popularity in Iowa, she’s sometimes on the bench in the final moments due to turnover issues.
But you can’t hide behind basketball when you’ve been anointed by the rising, transcendent tide that will uplift the world. WNBA to greater prosperity. And you certainly don’t get to do that when people use your name as a means to promote racism, misogyny, homophobia, and other societal ills. To whom much is given, much is indeed asked.
There is a tradition in professional sports that top recruits must be tested. Veterans are picking on them to see what they’re made of. No matter the sport or gender. But when Carrington fouled Clark and mocked the rookie for what she perceived as an embellishment of contact, much of the commentary on social media was predictable. “Caitlin Clark was targeted by black players again on Monday, this time in Connecticut,” one person wrote. “Suns guard (sic) DiJonai Carrington violently checked Clark then mocked her after the flagrant foul. The crowd booed. If the races had been reversed, Carrington would have been ejected.
Clark didn’t make these comments, but I was curious about his feelings about people using his name as a divisive tool. His first response Thursday morning: “It’s not something I can control, so I don’t spend too much time and thought on things like that.” And to be honest, I don’t see many of them. Like I said, basketball is my job. Anything that happens outside, I can’t control that, so I’m not going to spend time thinking about it. People can talk about whatever they want to talk about, create conversations about anything, but I think for me, I’m just here to play basketball. I’m just here to have fun. I’m trying to help our team win. …I don’t pay much attention to all that, to be honest.
But is she frank? It must be recognized that Clark is 22 years old and faces enormous demands and expectations. This should certainly allow him to show some degree of grace. Nonetheless, his comments were troubling because they lacked awareness and empathy toward their black peers who do not have the privilege to distance themselves from the isms they regularly encounter.
Carrington compared his silence to luxury. I see this as complicity.
Maybe she didn’t want to fully discuss it because of the sensitivity involved? Or perhaps she was following the advice of those around her, including advisors who might believe it was more profitable to say nothing? It worked well for Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, although it sent the message that money was more important than morality. But the initial reluctance to stand up to hatred and harassment was always going to be problematic in a league that is predominantly black and has a large LGBTQ+ population.
Coincidentally, her comments came on the same day that the National Women’s Basketball Players Association published a column on The Players’ Tribune that highlighted how proud its members were of their history of fighting against social injustices. “Our job has always been bigger than basketball,” he said at one point.
That’s why it was important that Clark walked back his comments Thursday evening, about an hour before the denunciation against the Atlanta Dream. She was in danger of losing the respect of some of her peers, especially at a time when more and more high-profile white actors are presenting themselves as allies in the fight against racism and homophobia.
It would have been obvious and problematic for a league that prides itself on inclusion and acceptance to see its most visible player remain silent on the sidelines when legendary WNBA guard Sue Bird spoke up. in a 2020 CNN articleor UConn guard Paige Bueckers tackled him during his acceptance speech at the 2021 ESPYsor former LSU guard Hailey Van Lith last March called criticism of his black teammates racistor with the Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink said last week“I recognize that there is privilege for young white players in the league.”
No one is asking Clark to be a social activist or to be an important face in the fight for respect, but it is important for her to at least speak out against those who might use her name to advocate hatred and division.
“It’s disappointing, it’s not acceptable…” she said before people used her name to push things forward. “This league is one that I grew up admiring and want to be a part of. Some of the women in that league were my biggest idols and biggest role models growing up. … Treating every woman in this league with the same respect is just a basic human thing that everyone should do. Just be a nice person and treat her the way you would want to be treated.
It may have taken her a while to express these feelings, but that shouldn’t distract from the fact that she finally arrived at the right place. It was a positive step for her and for the league.
(Photo: Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
