It was a warm, bustling Saturday afternoon in Lagos, Nigeria, when Caitlin Clark, one of the most inspiring basketball stars of her generation, arrived for a business deal. As she traveled through the city, she was enveloped in the vibrancy of Lagos—its energy, its hustle, and its resilience. The streets were alive with the rhythm of honking horns, the chatter of street vendors, and the constant movement of people rushing to their destinations. The air was thick with the smell of fried street food, and the sound of motorbikes weaving through traffic filled the atmosphere. It was the chaotic pulse of a city that never stopped moving, and Caitlin couldn’t help but take it all in.
She was in Lagos to explore new investment opportunities and business ventures, but it was something on the streets that caught her attention and would soon change her perspective on everything. As Caitlin’s car weaved through the busy streets, she noticed something unusual—a pregnant woman walking barefoot under the intense heat, carrying a tray of oranges balanced on her head. Caitlin’s eyes couldn’t look away. The woman’s thin frame bore the weight of more than just the oranges; it carried the burden of survival, the responsibility of motherhood, and the harsh realities of life in Lagos.
Strapped to her back was a small boy, no older than two, clinging tightly to her shoulders as she moved with determination through the crowd. His tiny, sweaty body was pressed against his mother’s, his bare chest exposed to the brutal sun. His small hands gripped her shoulders, and his head rested against her back, too tired to lift it. Despite the exhaustion clearly etched on the woman’s face, she moved with a quiet resilience, offering her fruit to passing pedestrians with a voice that carried both strength and desperation. Caitlin felt something stir deep within her.
The sight of the woman, pregnant and struggling under the weight of her circumstances, struck Caitlin like a lightning bolt. It was a scene that was too heartbreaking to ignore. Caitlin knew there was more to this woman’s story, and she felt compelled to do something about it.
She asked her driver to stop the car, her voice steady but firm. The driver hesitated—this was a busy street, and it wasn’t safe to stop in the middle of the hustle. But Caitlin insisted. The car came to a halt, and Caitlin stepped out. Her tall frame immediately caught the attention of passersby. Whispers started among the crowd as people recognized her—a foreigner, an athlete. What was she doing in the middle of the street, stepping out of a luxury car?
Despite the attention, Caitlin was focused on the woman ahead of her. The heat was suffocating, and the midday sun wrapped around her like a thick blanket, but Caitlin could only imagine what it must feel like for the woman who had been standing in it for hours, balancing a tray of oranges while carrying the weight of both her unborn child and her son.
Caitlin approached the woman cautiously, her shadow falling across the petite figure. The woman stopped, startled, her eyes flickering between Caitlin and the security guards who had quickly stepped out of the car. There was a brief moment of silence as they both took in each other’s presence. Finally, Caitlin spoke.
“Hi, what’s your name?” she asked softly, with a genuine smile.
The woman looked at her with some confusion before responding, “My name is Aah.”
Her voice was soft, but there was an undeniable firmness in it—resilience, Caitlin thought. Aah went on to explain that her husband had tragically died in a car accident a year ago. He had been the breadwinner of the family, and since his death, Aah had been forced to fend for herself and her young son. With no family to turn to and no other means of support, she had begun hawking oranges on the streets. It was hard, exhausting work, but it was the only way she could make enough money to buy food for herself and her child. Every day was a struggle to make ends meet.
Caitlin listened, her heart sinking with each word. Can you imagine the strength it takes to carry the weight of survival, Caitlin thought, while carrying a new life inside you? Aah was only one of many women in Lagos facing similar hardships, yet here she stood—working, surviving, refusing to give up. Caitlin couldn’t turn away.
Without a second thought, Caitlin reached into her pocket, pulled out a stack of cash, and handed Aah $500. Aah’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the money in Caitlin’s hand. For a moment, she didn’t move, as if unable to process the act of kindness unfolding before her. Then, slowly, she reached out, her fingers trembling as they brushed against the crisp bills. The moment she realized it was real, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She clutched the money tightly to her chest, overcome with emotion.
“Thank you,” Aah whispered, her voice shaking with gratitude. “Thank you so much.”
Caitlin smiled, but she wasn’t done. She didn’t just want to hand out money and walk away. She wanted to make a real difference in Aah’s life. She asked Aah if she would be willing to come with her to a nearby café to talk further. Aah hesitated, glancing at the tray of oranges she had been selling, unsure if she could spare even a few minutes away from her work. But Caitlin reassured her with a nod, and for the first time in a long while, Aah allowed herself to hope.
The two of them walked together to the café, Caitlin ensuring that Aah was comfortable and that she didn’t feel overwhelmed by the attention they were drawing. Once inside, Caitlin ordered cold drinks for both of them, sensing that Aah could use the hydration. As they sat down, Caitlin began asking Aah questions—not just about her current struggles, but about her dreams.
“What would you do if you didn’t have to worry about survival every day?” Caitlin asked gently. “What are your dreams?”
Aah took a deep breath, still overwhelmed by the kindness shown to her, but her answer was clear. She had always dreamed of owning a small grocery store—selling not just oranges, but a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other essentials. Selling on the streets had never been her plan, but it had become a necessity after her husband’s death. If she could run her own business, she believed she could provide a better life for her son and the child she was carrying.
Caitlin listened, nodding as she took in every word. She could see the fire in Aah’s eyes, the same fire that had kept her going through her hardships. And right then and there, Caitlin made a decision. She would help Aah turn her dream into a reality.
Within hours, Caitlin’s team found a small, clean storefront in a bustling area of Lagos. It wasn’t a luxury space, but it was perfect for what Aah needed. Caitlin immediately paid the rent for an entire year and gave Aah an additional $40,000 to stock the shop, hire workers, and set up a sustainable business. Caitlin didn’t just give her money; she gave Aah the opportunity to build something for herself and her family.
But Caitlin didn’t stop there. She also made sure Aah had access to proper prenatal care, covering all her medical expenses until her baby was born. It was a small, but vital step in ensuring Aah’s well-being during her pregnancy.
The next time Caitlin heard from Aah, it was a video message. Aah stood proudly in front of her shop, her son beside her, looking healthy and happy in his school uniform. The transformation was nothing short of miraculous. Aah had gone from being a struggling hawker to a thriving business owner, all because of one woman’s act of kindness.
The ripple effect of Caitlin’s generosity spread throughout the community. People who had once overlooked Aah now saw her as a symbol of perseverance and hope. Other women who had been hawking on the streets began to believe that change was possible. And for Aah’s son, the future looked brighter than ever.
Caitlin Clark didn’t just change Aah’s life that day—she changed the lives of those around her, inspiring everyone who heard her story. It wasn’t about the money. It was about the hope and the belief that one person’s kindness could transform a community. It was a lesson for all of us: even the smallest act of kindness can create a ripple effect that lasts a lifetime.
Caitlin Clark should not have been singled out by Time, says Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson
Sheila Johnson, billionaire co-owner of WNBA franchise Washington Mystics, has criticized Time for its awarding of “Athlete of the Year” to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.
On Tuesday, the outlet bestowed the honor on the 22-year-old after her stellar year, in which she broke multiple college, WNBA and broadcast records.
However, in an interview with CNN Sport, the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET) suggested that the media should do a better job of promoting all the leagues’ players, rather than focusing on Clark’s exploits.
Johnson questioned why the publication “couldn’t have put the whole WNBA on that cover,” given the talent the league possesses.
“When you just keep singling out one player, it creates hard feelings,” added Johnson, co-owner of three Washington sports franchises – the NHL’s Capitals, the NBA’s Wizards and the WNBA’s Mystics.
“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). We have so much talent out there.”
In her debut season with the Indiana Fever, Clark took home the Rookie of the Year award and was named to the All-WNBA first team – the first rookie to do so since 2008.
Her maiden season has also coincided with an unprecedented increase in coverage of the league, with viewership numbers consistently broken.
The league’s overall attendance increased by 48% year-on-year to its highest level in over 20 years; this phenomenon has been coined “The Caitlin Clark effect.”
A side effect of Clark’s success has been an increase in commercial deals, which Johnson says may create ill will among Clark’s counterparts.
Notably, Clark reportedly agreed to an eight-year deal with Nike worth $28 million that includes a signature shoe. This has prompted criticism from some quarters that her race has partly contributed to her commercial success, given other Black stars have not received deals on the same level.
“They would like to get the same kind of recognition. It all started with the whole Nike sponsorship that Caitlin got,” Johnson, America’s first Black woman billionaire, said.
“There are other players saying, ‘What about us?’”
Caitlin Clark guards Angel Reese at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 1.
Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire/AP/File
On-court rivalry
Throughout her college and WNBA career, Clark has been pitted on an on-court rivalry with fellow star Reese. While the rivalry has helped grow the game, it has also triggered discourse about race in the US.
In September, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert compared their rivalry to that of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird’s in the late 1970s and 1980s. That was an era which came to define the NBA for a period, but the narrative was one that often delineated along racial lines, by pitting a Black man and White man against each other.
Asked whether such comparisons could be drawn between Clark and Reese, and whether it was a good thing for the league, Sheila Johnson told CNN: “I think the media has got to be very, very careful to not make this a race issue, and that’s what’s really important.”
She later added: “I’m concerned about the infighting and the racial innuendos going on because that’s going to turn advertisers away from us.”
Clark is aware of the preferential treatment she may have received because of her race. In her Time interview, she stated: “I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a White person, there is privilege.
“A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them. The more we can appreciate that, highlight that, talk about that, and then continue to have brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible, I think it’s very important.
“I have to continue to try to change that. The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
Sheila Johnson said Clark should not have felt the need to approach the topic, but “I applaud her for saying it.”
“We have got to work together because the WNBA is at an inflection point where we’re really starting to go up, and I don’t want to lose that momentum,” she added.
