Can Caitlin Clark survive Olympic snub and 'white privilege' controversy to win Female Athlete of the Year?
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She wasn't picked for the US Olympic team, but Caitlin Clark's historic 2024 was nonetheless superlative. And now, after winning Time Magazine's Athlete of the Year and the WNBA's Rookie of the Year, the sport's biggest star has taken hope AP Female Athlete of the Year honors for her impact on and off the court.
![[Clark makes a heart gesture after the team's NCAA college basketball game against Michigan]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/24/15/93458881-14224527-image-a-28_1735053471378.jpg)
After leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft as expected and went on to win rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers tuned in to follow her journey.
![[Caitlin Clark speaks onstage during the 2024 A Year in TIME dinner at Current at Chelsea Piers]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/24/15/93458895-14224527-image-a-29_1735053484802.jpg)
Clark's exploits were far reaching, casting a light on other women's sports leagues along the way. Her honor comes after she sparked a fierce debate over her acceptance speech as TIME Athlete of the Year last week. In her interview with the magazine, the 22-year-old said the WNBA has 'been built on' black players and that 'as a white person, there is privilege'.
Her comments have drawn heavy criticism in some quarters, notably from commentator and podcaster Megyn Kelly, who bemoaned Clark's 'self-flagellation'. A group of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its members voted on the award. Clark received 35 votes, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was second with 25 and boxer Imane Khelif was third, getting four votes.
Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during a first-round WNBA basketball playoff game. Clark is only the fourth women's basketball player to be honored as the female athlete of the year since it was first presented in 1931, joining Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995) and Candace Parker (2008, 2021).
