Caitlin Clark's Time magazine cover didn't seem to be appreciated by Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson after the WNBA's record-breaking season.
Now, it looks like Clark's younger brother, Colin, has sent a jab back at Johnson.
Colin Clark reshared an old video from Front Office Sports on September 19th. The video shows a record 20,711 fans attending the game between the Mystics and their sister Indiana Fever at Washington's Capital One Arena.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, number 22, runs onto the court during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, July 12, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Grace Hollers/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
This was the largest crowd in WNBA history, and the Mystics actually moved the game from their regular Entertainment & Sports Arena to Capital One Arena to appease more fans in the 20,536-seat arena.
The WNBA had its most-watched regular season in 24 years, and the rookie class, headlined by Clark and Angel Reese, also had record attendance.
WNBA owner Caitlin Clark questions why she was chosen as Time Athlete of the Year, hints at potential racial discrimination
However, Clark's presence as the No. 1 overall pick in Iowa State, making her the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history and already receiving overwhelming support, led to an explosion in WNBA viewership and social media engagement. increased.
“I was able to attract a lot of people who had never even watched women's sports, let alone women's basketball, and turn them into fans,” said Clark, who was featured on the cover of Athlete of the Year. told Time in an interview.
Indiana Fever No. 22 Caitlin Clark disputes a call with the referee during the second half of a game against the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 19, 2024. (Emily Chin/Getty Images)
However, Johnson took exception to the time issue, believing the entire WNBA should have been the focus, not just Clark.
“We have so much talent, why couldn't they put the WNBA on that cover and say, 'The WNBA is the league of the year,'” Johnson said in an interview with CNN Sports last Friday.
“When you single out one player, it creates hard feelings. So now we're starting to hear stories of racism within the WNBA, and I don't want to hear those stories.”
Johnson is vice chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which also owns the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.
Former Iowa Hawkeye and current Indiana Fever WNBA star looks on while receiving an award during the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Northwestern Wildcats game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, on October 26, 2024. , Caitlin Clark. (Jeffrey Becker Imagine Images)
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“It took the WNBA nearly 28 players to get to where it is now. And something went right in the WNBA this year, and it was because of the drafting of players that came in. It wasn't just Caitlin Clark. It was a lease,” Johnson said. “I don't think you can pin it down to just one player because we have a lot of unrecognized talent.”
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