THE incredible rise in popularity of WNBA star Caitlin Clark is partly down to race, according to Las Vegas Aces player A’ja Wilson.

Women’s basketball is enjoying a golden moment and it’s largely due to the exploits of the prolific Clark.


Clark iп actioп agaiпst the Atlaпta Dream iп a WNBA preseasoп game last weekCredit: AP


Wilsoп is prepariпg for a пew seasoп with the AcesCredit: Getty

She became the highest points scorer in NCAA basketball history with the lowa Hawkeyes last season, as she helped her college team to the title game at March Madness.

And last month, Clark was selected as the first overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever.

She is becoming a genuinely big name across all American sports, signing some huge marketing deals in the process.

Wilson though, believes race has been an element in Clark’s success, which she explained in an interview with the Associated Press.

“I think it’s a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it’s not about black and white, but to me, it is,” she said.

“It really is, because you can be top-notch at what you are as a Black woman, but yet maybe that’s something that people don’t want to see.

“They don’t see it as marketable, so it doesn’t matter how hard I work./ “It doesn’t matter what we all do as Black women, we’re still going to be swept underneath the rug.

“That’s why it boils my blood when people say it’s not about race because it is.” Clark has struck a deal with Nike that will reportedly pay her $28 million over eight years.

The deal, which will include a signature shoe for Clark, is the richest sponsorship contract for a women’s basketball player.

The WBNA are expecting unprecedented levels of interest in the new season. There were record viewing figures for the women’s tournament at March Madness and the Draft this year.

The NCAA title game between the Hawkeyes and South Carolina Gamecocks was the most-watched basketball broadcast since 2019.

The game averaged 18.7 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, with a peak of 24 million.

The Draft then attracted 2.5 million viewers on ESPN.

The Fever play their opening game of the season against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.

It doesn’t matter what we all do as Black women, we’re still going to be swept underneath the rug.

A’ja Wilson

Indiana then has their first home game of the campaign against New York Liberty on Thursday.

Head coach Christie Sides said, “The month of May is crazy but that’s the league we play in.

“I’ve talked to the players a lot about the importance of recovery.”