The Rise of Caitlin Clark WNBA Her massive popularity in the women’s basketball world has sparked fierce debate, particularly from those who argue that her race has played a major role in her success.
Last month, The Tennessean published an opinion piece by columnist Andrea Williams calling Clark “marketable.” Elvis Presley’s The op-ed, written in the 1950s, was resurrected this week when The Indianapolis Star republished it on Thursday.
Elvis Presley performs onstage at The Ed Sullivan Show in New York City on January 6, 1957. (Photo by Steve Orosz/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images) (Steve Orosz/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
Williams recalls that American record producer Sam Phillips told him, “If you can find a white guy with a black sound and a black sensibility, you’ll make a million dollars.”
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Phillips signed popular black artists such as B.B. King, Little Milton and Howlin’ Wolf, but Williams said his greatest success came when he launched Presley’s career in 1954.
“Sam Phillips went on to record Elvis Presley, a white man who achieved dizzying commercial success by imitating the singing and dancing styles of the black artists who had shaped the soundtrack of his youth, both gospel and secular,” Williams writes.
“But Elvis’s adoption and appropriation of blackness was not as important to his stardom as his whiteness; otherwise, the black artists he imitated would have reached similar heights. Instead, in America, a white society where the ideology of white supremacy has long been deeply rooted, whiteness becomes the primary standard by which everything is measured and, in business, the primary market against which all products are targeted.”
Williams described the situation as Indiana Fever rookie He went on to claim that anyone who engages in similar conversations would be considered “racist.”
Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark, wearing number 22, signs autographs for fans after a game against the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 1, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
“To be clear, others have also noted the continued marketability of whites. They’re talking about the media’s refusal thus far to promote the WNBA with the same enthusiasm as they have this year. They’re also referring to the fact that, prior to A’ja Wilson’s recent announcement of her deal with Nike, no black WNBA player had a signature shoe with a major brand since Candace Parker in 2010-11.”
Charles Barkley repeats ‘boring nonsense’ about Caitlin Clark: ‘It’s really bad publicity for the WNBA’
She later added, “So instead of learning from this moment and having a real-time conversation about the intersection of race, gender and sports in America, those who know better are left shouting into a void and unhelpful space while everyone else clings to their baseless and ahistorical views.”
Last month, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson said in an interview with The Associated Press that Clark’s stardom was due to his race.
“I think that’s a big thing. A lot of people might say that this isn’t about black or white, but to me it is,” Wilson said. “It’s true that as a black woman, I can be at the top of my class in my own right, and yet, maybe people don’t want to see that.”
“It doesn’t matter how hard I work because they don’t see it as marketable. No matter what we black women do, we still get ignored. So it makes me angry when people say it’s not about race, because it is.”
A’ja Wilson, wearing number 22 for the Las Vegas Aces, celebrates with the MVP trophy after defeating the New York Liberty in Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center in New York City on Oct. 18, 2023. The Aces defeated the Liberty, 70-69. (Sarah Steer/Getty Images)
Other prominent athletes have spoken out on the issue, such as Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who called it “frivolous nonsense.” He recently appeared on Outkick to reiterate his position. “Please don’t attack me with Dan Dakich.”
“They act as if she didn’t earn it. She just got the highest points of any person ever, male or female. ‘She got this job because she’s white.’ Is race a factor? Yes, it is a factor, but her record speaks for itself. … They didn’t just support her because she’s white,” Barkley said.
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others, LeBron James, He also spoke about Clark’s success in the league.
“My favorite thing she’s brought to the sport is that more people want to watch. More people want to tune in. For the first time, they’re Chartered Plane“For the first time in the history of the league, they flew on a private jet, which in itself is something to be celebrated,” he said.
Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark, wearing number 22, gathers with teammates before a game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on May 22, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
“This is something to celebrate and it’s all because of Kaitlyn Clark. Don’t get me wrong. A lot of great things are going to happen in the WNBA because of Kaitlyn Clark.”
Meanwhile, Clarke said she believes increased attention to the league will bring more opportunities to women’s football.
“It doesn’t have to be one or two players. I think it goes back to college. The equality of women’s basketball is what makes more people want to come and watch. If we can spread the love and show people, their talent, their team, I think it will continue to raise the level of basketball even higher,” she said last month.
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