‘White people are really crazy about you,’ says Williams
Serena Williams, the tennis legend, pulled no punches as she hosted the ESPYs in Los Angeles on Thursday night. In her opening monologue, Williams acknowledged Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark for her three nominations, including a nod for best women’s athlete of the year.
Despite initially praising the WNBA’s top draft pick, Williams joked about the controversy surrounding Clark’s unusual popularity in the league.
“Caitlin Clark has had a remarkable year, receiving nominations for three awards. She’s often likened to Larry Bird due to her exceptional skills, Indiana connections, and strong support from White fans. Williams’ lighthearted comment comes after her recent counsel to Clark, suggesting that envy might be at the heart of the controversy surrounding her professional debut.”
“I really admire her efforts to remain down-to-earth and not pay much attention to her social media,” Williams told The Associated Press last month at the premiere of her new docuseries.
Clark has exemplified this sentiment.
During the recent weekend, the former Iowa standout scored 19 points, distributed 13 assists, and secured 12 rebounds, marking her as the first rookie in WNBA history to achieve a triple-double. Additionally, she received the highest number of votes for the WNBA All-Star Game. This week, she also became the first WNBA player to accomplish at least 25 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, five steals, and five 3-pointers in a single game.
Despite not winning the best women’s athlete of the year award, which went to Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson, Clark did receive two awards for her outstanding achievements. She was recognized for becoming the NCAA’s all-time career scoring leader and also honored as the best college athlete for her remarkable career in Iowa basketball.
“I’m currently occupied with matters in Indianapolis,” Clark stated via video. “It was an exceptional year for women’s athletics.”
