Lisa Bluder, Caitlin Clark’s former coach at Iowa, believes that everyone in the WNBA, including Washington Mystics co-owner Sheila Johnson, should celebrate Clark’s rising star and its positive influence on women’s basketball.

After an outstanding season that earned her the title of 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year with the Indiana Fever, Clark was honored as Time magazine’s Athlete of the Year, a choice that Johnson publicly criticized.

During a recent CNN Sports interview, Johnson remarked that Clark’s recognition was influenced by the media’s handling of race, suggesting that Time should have featured the entire WNBA, labeling it as the League of the Year instead.

In a discussion with YSL News’s Sports Seriously, Bluder, who concluded her 24-year coaching career with the Iowa Hawkeyes in May—where Clark played from 2020-24—expressed her disagreement, asserting that Clark’s influence on women’s sports is monumental.

“It’s absurd to downplay something that’s so beneficial for your sport right now,” Bluder stated. “(Clark) is someone who has profoundly influenced athletics and women’s sports, perhaps like no one since Billie Jean King.”

Mystics owner Johnson: Singular focus on Clark ‘creates hard feelings’

Johnson’s argument is complex. In the same CNN interview, she praised Clark for leveraging her Time magazine feature to shine a light on the need for more recognition of Black players in the WNBA.

“The WNBA has taken nearly 28 years to reach this stage,” Johnson explained. “It’s more than just Caitlin Clark. Players like (Angel) Reese also represent incredible talent that has previously gone unnoticed, and we shouldn’t solely credit one player for the league’s progress.

“I feel sad because I’ve seen so many players of color who are just as remarkable and yet have not received the recognition they deserve. Now is the time for that to change.”

Bluder’s perspective seems to suggest that with Clark’s rise, the entire WNBA will benefit. She urged everyone to support Clark, stating, “Let’s rally behind her and make her journey a little easier, as her success promotes us all. We often told our team that ‘when Caitlin shines, her light brightens all of us.’ Everyone should embrace this idea more fully.”

Clark defends Time recognition while acknowledging privilege

With the rapid ascent to superstardom, Clark’s expressions on broader societal issues inevitably spark diverse reactions. Some have criticized her for frequently using her prominent platform to discuss the matters Johnson highlighted. However, in her Time interview, Clark honored the contributions of Black players in the WNBA while asserting she has justified the accolades she is receiving.

“I want to say I’ve earned every single accolade, but being a white person means I have privilege,” Clark noted. “Many of the outstanding players in this league are Black. This league has fundamentally been shaped by them.”

“The more we celebrate, recognize, and discuss this, plus advocate for brands and organizations to support the players who have made this league remarkable, the more impactful it will be Elevating Black women is essential and will yield beautiful results.