Caitlin Clark (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Caitlin Clark has been named TIME Athlete of the Year for 2024 after her record-breaking rookie season in the WNBA.
The Indiana Fever superstar captivated basketball fans long before her arrival in the WNBA.
She capped off her year with a playoff appearance, which was the first for Indiana since 2016.
When asked by Time magazine how she would summarize this past year, Clark responded with one word: historic.
“I’ve been able to captivate so many people that have never watched women’s sports, let alone women’s basketball, and turn them into fans,” she told the magazine.
TIME also released the cover picture of Caitlin Clark, and it was truly jaw-dropping.
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Fans heaped nothing but praise for Caitlin Clark for her looks, her arms, and her accomplishments.
“Very well deserved. An incredible year for her and all her accomplishments. She is so fun to watch and look forward to seeing where her career takes her! Congratulations Caitlin! 👏🏼,” one fan said.
Another fan added, “The most influential athlete in world sports. No one else comes close to her upside and impact.”
“Congrats she is a stud.,” another X user said.
Another fan congratulated her on her enhancement of the sport: “Earned. This is well deserved! Caitlin Clark is helping move the conversation on the elevation of women’s sports.”
Someone also pointed out that “the haters are going to hate this so much.”
“Photo is 🔥, one fan said about Caitlin Clark’s appearance.
One fan loved Clark’s face in the picture, saying, “Da face 🔥.”
“caitlin clark you are STUNNING,” one fan added.
One final fan summed it up for everybody: “Finally, a cover that doesn’t make people roll their eyes 👀.”
Caitlin Clark Has Had A Dynamic 2024
Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game in her first season in the WNBA after she was drafted first overall by the Fever.
Clark was then named WNBA Rookie of the Year in October.
Her presence in the league also helped draw crowds to arenas around the country and drive up viewership numbers.
She has now capped off her incredible year by being named Time’s Athlete of the Year.
Dwight Howard fires back at Shaquille O’Neal as NBA legends reignite beef: ‘You always been jealous’
The former Lakers stars have long displayed animosity toward each other
Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal have traded jabs in the public eye in recent years, and that doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Howard recently appeared on Ray Daniels’ The GAUDs Show, and one topic they discussed happened to be Howard’s beef with O’Neal. In the interview, Howard revealed he “never wanted to be Shaq on any level,” but has utilized aspects of O’Neal’s work ethic into his game over the years.
“Never disrespected him,” Howard said about O’Neal. “But he’s always had something to say. There’s times where I’ve gotten upset and I’m like, ‘Yo, Shaq, this gotta stop, man.’ I tried to [talk to him].”
During his time on “Dancing With The Stars” this fall, Howard stated he was connected with someone close to O’Neal, and even attempted to arrange a meeting to hash out their issues.
“At this point, I’m like, do we need to throw hands?” Howard said. “What are we doing?”
As should come as no surprise, O’Neal took time to respond to Howard’s recent comments on social media.
“@DwightHoward the fact u think I care about u is funny, but I won’t ever bring your name up again sensitive big man, a jokester that can’t take a joke,” O’Neal posted on X. “Won’t ever say your name again ever again. Have a great day and now u have been deleted. Have a great day. #inevercared #trustme #dontneedvalidationyoudo #stayoffpodcasts #thefactyouthinkicareisfunny #yougottashowrespecttogetrespect #nowyouredeadtome”
On Tuesday, Howard decided to weigh in on O’Neal’s response in a post of his own on his X account.
“I know you care. Cuz yo insecure ass been hating and talking shit for 20 years. You too big to be this insecure,” Howard posted. “I hope you don’t bring my name up again. 52 years old tweeting me. And still hating. Now all this time you was joking. You always been jealous. Jealous of Kobe, Penny (Hardaway), [D-Wade]. You jealous of Charles (Barkley) too. Go move around big lazy insecure ass. I still have that long 5 Paragraph direct message you sent me a couple years ago telling me that I’m not that great to hate. And you still doing it. It’s 2025 grow the hell up. and move on.”
The back-and-forth has been a common theme between Howard and O’Neal over the years.
The two began bickering while O’Neal was still in the NBA, when Howard began using the Superman moniker after O’Neal had previously used it. Since that time, O’Neal has called out Howard for his play on the court.
In November 2022, O’Neal mocked Howard producing dominant performances during his time in Taiwan’s T1 League.
“You should never be complimented for being a good father because that’s what you’re supposed to do, right?” O’Neal said in the 2022 interview. “He’s supposed to have 30 points playing against dudes (5-foot-8).”
O’Neal also went on to compare Taiwan’s T1 League to a “Life Time Fitness league.”
The two have gone back-and-forth time and time again, and their feud doesn’t appear to ending anytime soon.
