- Caitlin Clark led Iowa to consecutive NCAA championship game appearances
- Clark was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
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The View co-host Sunny Hostin insisted that Caitlin Clark’s popularity can be attributed to her race and appearance.
Clark, who had a storied NCAA career at Iowa, rose to stardom this year after another successful season with the Hawkeyes. Clark’s star grew even brighter when she became the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft.
On Wednesday’s edition of the ABC talk show, Hostin expressed his opinion about the privilege that influenced Clark’s growing popularity.
“I think there’s something called beautiful privilege,” Hostin said. ‘There is a thing called white privilege. There is something called great privilege and we have to recognize it.’
“And part of it has to do with race because if you think about the Brittney Griners of the world, why did she have to go play in Russia? Because they wouldn’t pay her,” she said of the WNBA.
Sunny Hostin insisted Caitlin Clark’s popularity comes from ‘pretty white privilege’
Clark’s popularity began during his historic college career at the University of Iowa.
Her stardom continued to grow when she was selected first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The discussion stemmed from the panel addressing former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill, claiming that Clark’s fame is a byproduct of her race and sexuality. While she agreed with the core of the argument, Hostin said he has no problem with Clark drawing eyes to the league.
“Now, Caitlin Clark is bringing this money, these endorsements, we hope, to the league, and other players will benefit from it,” Hostin said. “But I do think it’s easier for more people to relate to her because she’s white, because she’s attractive, and unfortunately there’s still that stigma against the LGBTQ+ community.”
‘Seventy percent of the WNBA is black. A third of gamers are from the LGBTQ+ community and we have to do something about that stigma in this country. I think people have a problem with lesbian women playing basketball. Who cares? “They are great athletes.”
Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin responded by saying she became a WNBA fan because Clark is “so fun to watch,” noting that it had nothing to do with her race.
While co-host Whoopi Goldberg argued that she and Hostin have been trying to defend the WNBA for years, the former also rejected Hill’s comments.
“For them to reduce her like that really bothered me because this is her record,” Goldberg said, pointing to her note card.
Jemele Hill previously argued that Clark’s popularity is a byproduct of his race and sexuality.
Clark led Iowa to consecutive title game appearances and broke the Division 1 scoring record.
Clark is averaging 17 points, four rebounds and 5.5 assists as the Fever are off to an 0-4 start.
‘Unless you can show me who has a better record than this, that’s why she gets the attention she gets because she’s a really good player and it doesn’t matter if she’s straight or gay. Nobody cries when she makes those balls.
After Clark signed a lucrative $28 million deal with Nike after graduating, Hill criticized sports brands for not sponsoring more diverse athletes.
“Black women are often written out of the picture,” Hill said. “There is plenty of room to highlight and celebrate Caitlin Clark’s popularity while also discussing ways to not erase black women from a league they have built and continue to build.”
So far in his rookie season, Clark is averaging 17 points, four rebounds and 5.5 assists as the Fever are off to an 0-4 start. However, the WNBA has seen an increase in ticket sales and viewership with each game featuring Indiana’s newest star.