Serena Williams has offered Caitlin Clark some advice after weighing in on the controversy surrounding the Indian Fever rookie.
Just a month into her first WNBA season, Clark finds herself at the center of a culture war amid accusations that rival players attack her on the court because of her race and sexuality.
Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter sparked outrage earlier this month by shoving the former Iowa college sensation to the ground without provocation, with late-night talk show host Bill Maher blaming it on him being straight in a league “very lesbian.”
“There’s a racial element to this, too,” Maher added this week. “It’s not always racism when a white person is successful.”
Others, however, believe Clark is now being used as a weapon to promote racism, homophobia and misogyny, leading to fierce debate over the treatment of the WNBA’s newest superstar player.
Serena Williams has weighed in on the controversy surrounding WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark.
Just a month into her first season in the WNBA, Clark finds herself at the center of a culture war.
Amid the ongoing drama, Williams has praised Clark for not letting it affect her on the court, while suggesting her critics are jealous of what she is accomplishing.
“I love that he tried to stand his ground and not…look at his social media,” the tennis legend said. Associated Press at the premiere of her docuseries ‘In the Arena: Serena Williams’.
‘I understand. Me neither. And I think it’s very important to continue doing what she’s doing.
‘And it doesn’t matter what other people do, if people are negative it’s because they can’t do what you do… basically. And hopefully continue doing what he’s doing.”
Clark recently responded to claims that she is being weaponized for negative reasons in the WNBA, after she initially appeared to ignore such suggestions.
Connecticut Sun star DiJonai Carrington seemed to take issue with that initial reaction, taking to social media to question how players can’t be bothered by being used as a weapon of hate.
However, Clark took a firmer stance when pressed directly on the issue Thursday night before the Fever’s game against the Atlanta Dream.
Tennis legend Williams has praised Clark for not letting it affect her on the court, while suggesting her critics are jealous of what she is achieving.
“It’s disappointing,” he admitted. ‘Everyone in our world deserves the same respect. The women in our league deserve the same respect.
‘People shouldn’t use my name for those agendas. It’s disappointing. Is not acceptable.
‘This league is the league that I grew up admiring and wanted to be a part of. Some of the women in this league were my biggest idols and role models growing up and helped me want to achieve this moment here where I can play every night.
