A’ja Wilson Says Fanfare Round Caitlin Clark Erased WNBA Historical past For A Second

A’ja Wilson has acquired a number of accolades in basketball this yr, together with her fourth league MVP, her third WNBA championship, and WNBA Finals MVP. Her reputation has continued to soar off the court docket as she was named Time’s Athlete of the Yr this week. Wilson mirrored on the recognition of the WNBA over the previous few years and shared her ideas on the main focus having nearly completely been placed on Caitlin Clark for a time.

A’ja Wilson mentioned the WNBA is well-liked exterior of Caitlin Clark

Nationwide curiosity in girls’s basketball exploded through the 2023 NCAA championship, significantly after Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese went viral for his or her face-off on the court docket. Each gamers began taking part in professionally after they have been recruited within the 2024 WNBA draft. The highlight was largely placed on Clark when she joined the Indiana Fever and have become among the best gamers to observe within the league.

Though Wilson doesn’t negate the influence that Clark has had on the league, she desires to remind everybody that the WNBA grew in reputation due to contributions from different athletes as properly.

“It wasn’t successful at me, as a result of I’m going to do me regardless. I’m going to win this MVP, I’ll win a gold medal, y’all can’t shake my résumé,” Wilson advised Time. “It was extra so, let’s not lose the recipe. Let’s not lose the historical past. It was erased for a minute. And I don’t like that. As a result of we’ve tons of ladies which were by means of the grimiest of dirty issues to get the league the place it’s at present.”

Clark was injured and missed a lot of the 2025 season. But, viewership throughout ESPN networks nonetheless grew by roughly 5 to 6 % per recreation, in accordance with Advanced. To Wilson, this confirmed the facility that the league – and different gamers – maintain on their very own.

“Typically you want a proof within the pudding,” Wilson mentioned, including that she doesn’t cheer on Clark’s damage, in accordance with Time. “The largest factor for us, and why I used to be so pleased, is that we proceed to rise to the event. This was only a matter of time for us to essentially bloom and blossom. As a result of we’ve been invested in one another and our craft for a really very long time. It was identical to, ‘They’re going to concentrate.’”

Caitlin Clark admitted to receiving privilege ‘as a white individual’ within the WNBA

Time named Clark as its Athlete of the Yr in 2024. On the time, she acknowledged privilege tied to her ace regardless of having earned each accolade as a result of her work and expertise. Clark additionally famous that the WNBA has largely been constructed by Black gamers.

“I need to say I’ve earned each single factor, however as a white individual, there may be privilege,” she beforehand advised Time. “A whole lot of these gamers within the league which were actually good have been Black gamers. This league has type of been constructed on them.”

Clark additionally known as on manufacturers and corporations to accomplice with extra Black WNBA gamers.

“The extra we will recognize that, spotlight that, discuss that, after which proceed to have manufacturers and corporations put money into these gamers which have made this league unbelievable, I believe it’s crucial,” she mentioned. “I’ve to proceed to attempt to change that. The extra we will elevate Black girls, that’s going to be a good looking factor.”