Caitlin Clark (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark is speaking out like she has never spoken before.

After being the subject of cultural debates throughout her rookie season, the Indiana Fever superstar admitted to feeling “privilege” as a White woman.

That was only the first part of her shocking statement that had fans going nuts.

The WNBA phenom was named Time’s Athlete of the Year after she elevated women’s basketball to unprecedented heights.

After she entered the league, several comments were made about Caitlin Clark only receiving the attention and money she gets because she is good at basketball and white.

Players like Angel Reese said there had been “a lot of racism” from Iowa and Indiana Fever fans, while WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson said Clark being White was a “huge thing” when it came to her popularity.

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Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington even called out Caitlin Clark for refusing to speak out more on racism.

She is speaking now.

“I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a White person, there is privilege,” Clark told Time.

Caitlin then went on to praise Black women, saying, “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.”

Social media couldn’t believe those words came out of her mouth and even some of her own fans started to turn on her.

“Well that was fun while it lasted. That is a good way to tank most of your viewership,” one fan of Caitlin Clark’s statement.

One fan saw it another way: “🎯 I respect what she said. There’s only a few real ones like Eminem that will admit “privilege” can play a factor. It’s NOT everything, you still have to work hard.. but some have to work a bit harder. Not hard to understand.”

Another fan called her a clown: “‘We need to elevate more black women in the WNBA,’ says one of the three white women in the WNBA 🤡”

One X user fired back her statement, adding, “Her privilege is her talent, not her skin color. She’s not selling out arenas because she’s white.”

Another fan was also turned off by Caitlin Clark’s statement: “Did she get threatened by the WNBA? This is why I don’t watch professional basketball. No one should apologize for their skin color. They should though apologize for the way they act.”

“She’s gone woke,” one fan stated.

Also Read: Bill Simmons Sparks A Social Media Frenzy After He Claims Caitlin Clark Is “Bigger” Than Any Under-30 NBA Star

Caitlin Clark Has Had A Dynamic 2024

In her debut season with the Indiana Fever following a stellar career at Iowa, Caitlin Clark shut all of the hate down with her play on the court, which led to her winning the Rookie of the Year award and being named to the All-WNBA first-team.

She became the first Rookie to do so since 2008. Clark also led the Fever to the postseason, somewhere the franchise hadn’t been since 2016.

Clark’s presence in the league took the record-breaking viewership from college to the pros as she drew crowds to arenas around the country.

She was the main focus that helped the growing popularity of the WNBA and women’s college basketball.

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.