Caitlin Clark has been the biggest story in college basketball for two years, thanks to her remarkable run to two national title games, capping off a record-shattering collegiate career. As she prepares for her first regular-season WNBA game, discussions about her race and transition to professional basketball have emerged, whether she likes it or not.

Clark has not said anything to fuel tensions between Black and White players. However, the lucrative deals she has already signed have sparked conversations about double standards in women’s pro basketball, even before her WNBA career officially begins.

“I think it’s a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it’s not about Black and white, but to me, it is,” Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson said in an interview with the Associated Press, commenting on the racial dynamics in Clark’s popularity before signing her own major endorsement deals. “It really is because you can be top-notch at what you are as a Black woman, but yet maybe that’s something that people don’t want to see.”

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“They don’t see it as marketable, so it doesn’t matter how hard I work. It doesn’t matter what we all do as Black women, we’re still going to be swept underneath the rug. That’s why it boils my blood when people say it’s not about race because it is.”

Sports can be elevated by a heated rivalry, especially when race is involved. Caitlin Clark’s rise has been accompanied by an on-court bravado that made her must-watch TV as she led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back NCAA championship game appearances.

At Iowa, Clark’s on-court rival in the NCAA Tournament was former LSU star Angel Reese. She also faced off against the women’s basketball powerhouse South Carolina and coach Dawn Staley. These matchups created moments that captivated the sporting world beyond women’s college basketball, attracting a whole new audience.

However, these matchups also led to ongoing discussions about how race influences the treatment of Clark, a white woman from “America’s Heartland,” compared to her Black counterparts like Reese. Clark has acknowledged that she and Reese are part of a larger movement.

“I would say me and Angel have always been great competitors,” Clark said prior to Iowa’s Elite Eight matchup with Reese and LSU in March.

Wilson’s controversial comments have sparked debate ahead of Clark’s WNBA debut this week 

Clark’s college rivalry with LSU could be a reason for rising women’s basketball viewership

Clark believes that her rivalry with LSU and Angel Reese was part of a bigger movement

“I think Angel would say the same—it’s not just us in women’s basketball. That’s not the only competitive thing about where our game is at, and that’s what makes it so good. We need multiple people to be really good.”

Despite this sentiment, the race-based debate over perceived slights to Black players or favoritism toward Caitlin Clark continues as she prepares for her first regular-season game on Tuesday night when Indiana plays Connecticut.

Victoria Jackson, a sports historian and clinical associate professor of history at Arizona State University, noted, “I think new fans, or maybe returning fans to women’s college basketball, have been drawn in, in part because of Clark. But also because of the LSU-Iowa rivalry. There are basketball reasons, but also racial reasons for why Clark has been able to kind of break off into a completely different stratosphere from players that came before her.”

Clark’s first preseason game was streamed, but Angel Reese’s was not. If Reese talks trash, it’s viewed as unsportsmanlike, while if Clark does it, she’s seen as being competitive. Reese also faced backlash for attending the Met Gala before a game, raising questions about whether Clark would have faced the same scrutiny had she walked the red carpet.

A’ja Wilson, who recently signed with Gatorade and announced that she is getting a Nike signature shoe, has highlighted how companies are eager to partner with Clark as an example of the disparity in how players are treated.

Clark was even given a signature shoe by Nike before they gave one to Wilson (pictured), who is a multiple-time WNBA champion and is a two-time league Most Valuable Player 

Wilson also signed with Gatorade last week and has been increasing her brand value

Caitlin Clark recently secured a groundbreaking deal with Nike worth a reported $28 million over eight years, marking the most lucrative sponsorship contract for a women’s basketball player. The deal includes a signature shoe, a rare achievement in the WNBA. Prior to A’ja Wilson’s recent announcement, the only active WNBA players with signature shoes were Elena Delle Donne, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart—all of whom are white.

This disparity extends beyond endorsements. Clark’s preseason debut was available on the WNBA League Pass streaming app, but a post on the X platform from the WNBA mistakenly claimed that all games, including the debut of Angel Reese and fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso for the Chicago Sky, would also be available.

Clark’s rise to the pro ranks has come with an on-court bravado that made her must-watch TV

Prior to Wilson’s announcement, only three other WNBA players had signature shoes

A fan at the Chicago Sky’s game recently livestreamed it, attracting over 620,000 views. In response to the absence of a live broadcast for the Sky’s game, the WNBA explained in an apology post that Caitlin Clark’s game was part of a limited free preview of its streaming app.

The contrast in social media treatment between Clark and Angel Reese has raised concerns about racial dynamics. Reese, who has openly discussed the harsh criticism she faces online, was recently targeted again after missing a preseason practice to attend the Met Gala. While Clark has also faced online scrutiny, it appears to be less intense compared to Reese’s experiences.