As the discourse surrounding Indiana Fever rookie and women’s basketball phenom Caitlin Clark continues to grow louder, some of the discussion has taken an uglier turn into racism and misogyny directed at the rest of the WNBA.
On Thursday, Clark refuted that language, saying she does not want her name used in that context.
“Everyone in our world deserves equal respect. The women in our league deserve equal respect,” Clark said in response to a question from The Athletic’s James Boyd. “People shouldn’t be using my name to push those agendas.”
I have asked #IndianaFeverCaitlin Clark directly about her name being weaponized for racism/misogyny (as Dijonai Carrington alluded to):
“It’s disappointing. … Everyone in our world deserves equal respect. The women in our league deserve equal respect.” pic.twitter.com/gyAWBqGG8c
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 13, 2024
Clark’s response came after responding to a question from The Athletic’s Jim Trotter earlier on Thursday, in which Clark said weaponizing her name is beyond her control.
“I’m just here to play basketball,” Clark said.
#IndianaFever‘s Caitlin Clark on Her Name Being Weaponized in Non-Sports Topics:
“It’s not something I have control over. … And honestly, I don’t see much of it.”
“People can talk about what they want to talk about. … I’m just here to play basketball.”
Q by @JimTrotter_NFL pic.twitter.com/VhGC7cIgLf
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 13, 2024
The response, which some saw as dismissive of the bigotry in the conversation, sparked criticism, including from Connecticut Sun watcher Dijonai Carrington, who posted about the response to X.
“The fact that you don’t care that their name is used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia and the intersectionality of it all is insane,” Carrington wrote. “We all have a platform. We all have a voice and they all have weight. Silence is a luxury.”
Dawg. It’s insane that anyone doesn’t care that their name is used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia and its intersectionality. We all see the sh*t. We all have a stage. We all have a voice and they all carry weight. Silence is a luxury.
— dιjonaι carrιngтon♛ (@DijonaiVictoria) June 13, 2024
Boyd asked Clark the more specific question, related to racism and misogyny, shortly after Carrington’s post. The former Iowa guard was clearer there.
“Treating every woman in this league with equal respect, I think, is just a human thing that everyone should do,” Clark said. “I think it’s very simple.”
Clark has faced a lot of noise since joining the WNBA in April, most recently being left off Team USA’s Olympic roster — a perceived snub for many of her fans. Clark herself said she views being left out of the team as “something to work for.”
On Thursday night, Clark and the Fever won their fourth game of the season with a 91-84 win over the Atlanta Dream. Clark scored seven points on 3-for-11 shooting, and added four rebounds and six assists. Alliyah Boston led Indiana with 27 points and 13 rebounds, followed by Kelsey Mitchell’s 24 points.
