Raw Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson says race is the reason behind the uproar over Caitlin Clark joining the WNBA.
As a member of the Iowa women’s basketball team, Clark set a long record and helped make college basketball one of the most-watched sports on television during her final year. But now she’s heading to the WNBA and Indiana her fever, and her fame in college is bringing great expectations and a lot of new eyes to the women’s professional basketball league.
Despite Clark’s accomplishments to date, Wilson believes Clark’s popularity is due to racism.
“I think it’s a big deal,” Wilson said of the racism that underpinned Clark’s success, according to the newspaper. Associated Press. “A lot of people might say this isn’t a black and white issue, but for me it is. It’s really about being able to be the best for myself as a Black woman, but maybe that’s what people want to see.” It may not be there.
“It doesn’t matter how hard I work because they don’t think it’s marketable,” she exclaimed. “Regardless of what we do as Black women, we’re still going to be swept under the rug. That’s why people say this isn’t a race issue, because it’s not a race issue. When I get angry, my blood boils.”
Aja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces watches a game against Puerto Rico during a WNBA preseason game at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina on May 11, 2024. (Travis Bell/NBAE via Getty Images)
Clark’s $28 million contract with Nike led many to accuse the shoe company of being racist for awarding a shoe contract to a WNBA rookie.
For example, left-handed sports columnist Mike Freeman USA Today In April, Clark complained that he was given a shoe contract after finishing his college basketball career and entering the WNBA. In Clark’s opinion, there were several black players who deserved contracts but weren’t given them, and Wilson was one of them. he quoted.
On Saturday, Wilson announced he would be signing his own Nike shoe deal this season. And she also signed a big deal with Gatorade.
however, fox sports Heading into her first WNBA season, Clark points out that she had another big advantage over Wilson, and it has nothing to do with racism.
Indiana Fever No. 22 Caitlin Clark shoots a free throw against the Atlanta Dream during a WNBA preseason game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 9, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Clark’s basketball career coincided with a movement to allow name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for college athletes. Therefore, Clark was already in contact with advertisers and companies even before signing his first WNBA contract.
It’s an advantage Clark’s biggest college rival, Angel Reese, also enjoyed, as did LSU player Frauge Johnson. Neither is white, and both had major sponsorship deals as they headed from college to the WNBA.
So far, Clark has wisely avoided commenting on the vile accusation that she is successful simply because she is white.
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