Caitlin Clark Claps Back: Defending Her Legacy Amid A’ja Wilson’s WNBA History Critique…
In a simmering feud that’s gripped the WNBA offseason, Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark fired back at Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson following Wilson’s candid TIME magazine interview. Named the outlet’s 2025 Athlete of the Year, Wilson, 29, reflected on the league’s explosive growth, admitting she was “bothered” by narratives that erupted after Clark’s 2024 rookie debut. “It was erased for a minute. And I don’t like that,” Wilson told TIME, lamenting how Clark’s meteoric rise seemed to overshadow the “grimiest” sacrifices of Black pioneers who built the league over decades
Clark, 23, who herself graced TIME’s 2024 cover amid backlash for addressing racism and privilege in women’s sports, didn’t mince words in a post-game presser after the Fever’s recent exhibition win. “I’ve always said this league stands on the shoulders of legends like A’ja, Diana [Taurasi], and Tamika [Catchings]. But let’s not pretend my arrival erased anyone— it amplified us all,” Clark shot back, her voice steady but edged with frustration Fans erupted on X, with one viral post calling it “the clapback of the year,” racking up 50K likes overnight.
The tension traces to 2024, when Clark’s logo threes and no-look passes drew record crowds—her games averaged 1.2 million viewers, a 199% spike. Yet Wilson, a three-time MVP and Olympic gold medalist, has long pushed back against the “Caitlin Effect” as a solo savior story. In May 2024, she told the AP race played a role in the hype, sparking debates on equity in a Black-led league. Clark, absent most of 2025 due to injury, saw viewership dip just 5%, fueling Wilson’s vindication narrative.
Still, mutual respect lingers. Wilson once praised Clark’s “sensitivity” in TIME’s Women of the Year issue, while Clark has called Wilson’s dominance “unguardable.” As the 2026 season looms, this exchange underscores the WNBA’s evolution: from underground grit to global spotlight, where credit isn’t zero-sum. “We’re building together,” Clark added. “History isn’t erased—it’s expanded.
