Caitlin Clark Tight Lipped on Sheryl Swoopes as 35 Journalists Ditch Simone Biles for WNBA Star

If you thought Caitlin Clark breaking records right, left, and center was her NCAA days, think again! After being named TIME’s Player of the Year, the reigning league ROTY continues her extraordinary run, adding another accolade to her growing list of achievements. The Associated Press (AP) Female Athlete of the Year title now belongs to the Iowa sensation, further solidifying her impact on women’s sports and basketball. However, while the point guard did mention one WNBA legend, she chose to stay quiet about another.

According to a recent post on X by the Associated Press, “Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women’s sports.” This honor highlights her ascent in the sport, both as a player and as an icon. Clark now joins an exclusive list of basketball legends such as Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, and Candace Parker.

Seventy-four sports journalists from the Associated Press and its members cast their votes for the award, with Clark securing the top spot with 35 votes. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles came in second with 25 votes, followed by boxer Imane Khelif, who received 4 votes.

The point guard’s win marks a historic moment—she is only the fourth women’s basketball player to earn this distinction since its inception in 1931. And while she may or may not have known about who the others were, she chose to only speak up on the 3x WNBA champ Parker.

“I grew up a fan of Candace Parker and the people who came before me, and to be honored in this way is super special, and I’m thankful,” Clark said in a phone interview with AP. “It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.”

However, while Clark praised Candace Parker and other WNBA legends in her AP interview, she notably did not mention Sheryl Swoopes, one of her chief critics. This omission stands in contrast to a previous moment when, during her appearance on SNL, Clark openly credited Swoopes and other trailblazers.

“I’m sure it will be a big first step for me, but it’s just one step for the WNBA. Thanks to all the great players: Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, and my basketball hero, Maya Moore. These are the girls that kicked down the door so I could walk inside. I want to thank them for laying down the foundation.”

This time, however, Clark’s silence on Swoopes was noticeable, especially considering her respect for the WNBA legend even before her own rise to prominence in the league.

However, Clark’s own AP recognition comes after a year of record-breaking performances and milestones. She led Iowa to its second consecutive National Championship Game, shattered NCAA Division I scoring records with 3,951 career points, and made a more or less seamless transition to the WNBA.

Her rookie season with the Indiana Fever was no less groundbreaking. From setting a single-game assist record of 19 to becoming the fastest player to reach 100 three-pointers in just 34 games, Clark’s impact was undeniable.

Clark’s individual accolades are extraordinary, but they’re just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Her success is a testament to the collective rise of women’s sports—a movement fueled by fans, teammates, and trailblazers who came before her.

Why Caitlin Clark is the perfect choice: Transforming women’s basketball with record viewership

Lobo, a former recipient of the AP Female Athlete of the Year award and a key figure in the WNBA’s early days, lauded Clark’s unparalleled influence on the game. “She’s brought unprecedented attention both in the building, but also viewership to the sport that was worthy of it but didn’t have it yet,” Lobo remarked in an interview with the Associated Press.

“There’s never been anything like this. That timeframe from 1995-97 was a baby step in the progression of it all. This is a giant leap forward. I’ve never seen anything like this. There’s more attention than the sport’s ever had,” said the WNBA legend who earlier in April called Caitlin Clark a “tsunami” for the league, set to raise the tide for all.

Indeed, the numbers tell the story of Clark’s far-reaching influence. WNBA viewership increased by 300% during her rookie season, with networks like ABC, ESPN, and CBS breaking their own records. Iowa’s NCAA women’s championship game, which featured Clark, attracted 18.9 million viewers—outdrawing the men’s Final Four for the first time in history.

USA Today via Reuters

Clark credits the rise of women’s sports to a collective effort. “It’s fascinating, you don’t always appreciate how many people 18 million is,” she reflected. “You see that number against a college football game or the Masters or whatever it is as far as the biggest sporting events in our country, and it puts it in perspective. We outdrew the men’s Final Four.”

For Clark, it’s not just about winning awards or breaking records. She remains grounded, often taking time before and after games to sign autographs and connect with fans.

“For me, it’s still really fun,” she said. “Whether it’s 15 seconds or 10 seconds or 5 seconds can be very impactful in a young girl and young boy’s life. Seeing the fans going crazy an hour before tipoff, I never take that for granted. That’s super cool, and I never want that to go away.”

As Clark’s career continues to soar, her ability to navigate the pressure with grace remains unmatched. Her journey, from college basketball phenom to professional superstar, is not just a milestone for her but a giant leap for women’s sports as a whole. As for her heart, it is in the right place and she knows how to navigate challenges just right, even if the challenge to her is in the WNBA’s icon Sheryl Swoopes herself.