Caitlin Clark receiving the TIME magazine’s 2024 Athlete of The Year Award came not just with the glory of the award, but also with the backlash, as some of Clark’s comments, particularly about what she called her “white privilege,” did not sit well with some people, resulting in negative comments. Still, some people have come to the defense of the Indiana Fever star, such as Fox analyst Aaron Torres.
In his post over at X, Torres expressed his insight on the matter, particularly after the Washington Mystics co-owner questioned Clark’s eligibility for the award, citing that she should not be singled out for recognition.
“NBA owners didn’t complain when Michael Jordan 10x’ed the value of their franchises,” Torres said in his post. “Other fighters didn’t complain when Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather got everyone paid.”
NBA owners didn’t complain when Michael Jordan 10x’ed the value of their franchises.
Other fighters didn’t complain when Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather got everyone paid.
The people who are running the WNBA are certifiably insane. They really are. https://t.co/IC892069hb
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) December 14, 2024
Michael Jordan was indeed known for increasing the value of franchises he was involved with. The Chicago Bulls saw a huge boost in its value during his stay with the team, and the Charlotte Hornets also saw significant growth; it has reached 17x its original value by the time he sold his ownership share.
Major sports events like fights from notable figures like Connor McGregor also provide a positive economic impact as it opens up a wide range of income and employment opportunities.
With these things considered, Torres expressed his feelings toward the WNBA.
“The people who are running the WNBA are certifiably insane,” he concluded. “They really are.”
Washington Mystics Co-Owner Not Impressed: “It’s Not Just Caitlin Clark”
Joining the list of people not impressed with Caitlin Clark winning TIME Magazine’s Athlete of The Year award was Washington Mystics co-owner Sheila Johnson, who thinks that Clark is not the only name deserving of the award, but the league as a whole.
“This year, something clicked with the WNBA and it’s because of the draft of players that came in. It’s not just Caitlin Clark, it’s (Angel) Reese (as well),” she said, in an interview with CNN. “We have so much talent out there.”
“When you just keep singling out one player, it creates hard feelings,” she continued. “So, you’re starting to hear stories of racism in the WNBA and I don’t want to hear that. We have got to operate and become stronger as a league and respect everybody [who’s] paying and their talent.”
Caitlin Clark was named WNBA’s Rookie of The Year for the 2024 season. She has been long-rumored to join the new 3-on-3 league Unrivaled, but has ultimately declined, which means the earliest fans can see her back in court would be for the start of the 2025 WNBA season.
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