At TIME’s “A Year in TIME” event in New York on December 11th, the TIME Athlete of the Year, Caitlin Clark, discussed her enthusiasm for the future of women’s sports, particularly the WNBA, in a conversation with NBC sports producer and broadcaster Maria Taylor.
This event, held in conjunction with the release of TIME’s Person of the Year issue, also featured a performance by TIME’s Icon of the Year and a discussion with TIME’s CEO of the Year.
Clark, only 22, reflected on her remarkable year: completing her final college year at the University of Iowa (where she set numerous NCAA Division 1 records) and finishing her first WNBA season with the Indiana Fever as Rookie of the Year. She acknowledged the whirlwind nature of her success.
While admitting the intense spotlight is sometimes overwhelming, Clark emphasized her commitment to serving as a role model for young people and anticipates increased visibility for women’s sports athletes.
“It’s special to see those young girls and those young boys that bring signs or are with their mom or dad … That’s a memory that they’re going to share forever,” Clark said. “I remember my first WNBA game, one of the best memories of my childhood, very influential in wanting to be a professional basketball player, wanting to be a great person … so I just try to embody that every single day.”
Taylor, a long-time WNBA commentator, questioned Clark about the league’s recent growth—a surge partly attributed to captivating performances—and its future trajectory. Clark highlighted the unpredictable nature of such rapid expansion, using her own career as an example.
“I feel like we’re just scratching the surface,” she said. “If you would have told people this is where the WNBA is, five years ago … people probably wouldn’t have believed you, because they never thought that was possible. They never thought people would buy tickets; they never thought we’d play on ABC, never thought we’d be on ESPN. They never thought there could be sold out arenas or little kids wanting to wear WNBA jerseys.”
Clark advocated for investment in women’s sports, emphasizing its increasing value. She hinted at her future involvement in the industry.
“I love basketball,” she said, “and hopefully, once [playing] basketball ends, I can still find things that I’m really passionate about and can do; I’ll hopefully be an owner of a sports team one day.”
Clark also addressed reactions to her TIME Athlete of the Year recognition. While mostly positive, some criticism emerged, including comments from conservative commentator Megyn Kelly who accused Clark of “.”
Clark maintained that she earned her accomplishments while acknowledging the contributions of previous Black women in the WNBA, including her favorite player, Maya Moore.
“There’s been so many amazing Black women that have been in this league, and continuing to uplift them is very important,” she said, “and that’s something I’m very aware of.”
Regarding criticism, she stated: “I think my best skill is just blocking out the noise, and hopefully it continues to be, because with the way things are going and where the WNBA is going, you want that attention, and you embrace it, and that’s what makes this so fun.”
Both on and off the court, Clark is mindful of her influence, though she recognizes she’s still navigating her early adulthood. After an 82-game season, she’s enjoying a well-deserved break before the next one.
“I’m very fortunate and grateful, but I feel like I can just continue to improve.”
A Year in TIME was presented by American Family Insurance, Absolut, Land O’Lakes, and Nike.