Caitlin Clark is earning some recognition for her spectacular 2024.
Even ahead of the Time Person of the Year announcement, the magazine did release its Athlete of the Year.
It is no surprise that Caitlin received this honor.
She’s a breakout star of the WNBA, and you don’t have to be a basketball fan to know that.
After this year, Caitlin Clark needs no introduction
In 2024, Caitlin Clark enjoyed a breakout rookie season in the WNBA.
The Indiana Fever player is also now friends with Taylor Swift, who has had a monumental year herself.
Caitlin is now so famous within the world of sports that she has broken containment. Even people who’ve never voluntarily watched a minute of basketball know her name.
On December 10, alongside the polarizing short list for Time‘s 2024 Person of the Year, Time revealed that Caitlin Clark is the magazine’s Athlete of the Year.
The coverage includes how Caitlin’s friend Taylor, who was Time’s Person of the Year in 2023, showered her with gifts, praise, and encouragement.
In addition to four bags of Eras Tour merch, Taylor praised Caitlin as an inspiration in a note. Among other things, the letter invited Caitlin to attend a Chiefs game with Taylor, and expressed excitement to watch Caitlin play now that the Eras Tour is over.
Caitlin Clark has broad popularity, on and off the court
“People are just going crazy that I’m there,” Caitlin commented after Taylor’s fans all but mobbed her at the Eras Tour.
“I thought people would be so in their own world, ready to see Taylor,” she commented. “And it was just completely the opposite.”
It’s true that many Swifties have learned a great deal about the world of sports over the past year or so. However, Caitlin’s success on the court has translated into fame even beyond Taylor’s massive sphere of influence. Not bad for a 22-year-old “rookie.”
In fact, while it of course makes sense to highlight Taylor and Caitlin’s friendship, Caitlin isn’t getting Athlete of the Year because Taylor’s rising tide lifts all boats (or whatever).
She’s a phenomenal athlete.
And, vitally, she’s drawing attention to women in sports where, compared to male counterparts, women are underpaid and underappreciated. That, more than anything, is why people might know who she is without following basketball herself.
She knows that she’s not the only star athlete?
“I’ve been able to captivate so many people that have never watched women’s sports, let alone women’s basketball, and turn them into fans,” Caitlin acknowledged.
“I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege,” she then affirmed.
“A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players,” Caitlin noted. “This league has kind of been built on them.”