Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon defends WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark against criticism, highlighting the lack of recognition given to Black and brown players.
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon has recently made headlines for her outspoken comments on racial disparities in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Hammon implored the media to "back off" speculations that WNBA veterans have negative feelings towards the Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark, who has garnered significant attention in the league.
Hammon defended Clark, stating that the rookie is a "22-year-old woman with a lot of pressure" and deserves to be recognized for her accomplishments. However, she also criticized the narrative that race plays no role in the coverage of female athletes.
"Even the Black and White thing — knock it off. It's not there. It's not there. So shut down the noise, and Black and White, what is she, 22? She's a 22-year-old woman with a lot of pressure. She's not perfect. She's a rookie in this league. Back off," Hammon said.
Hammon's comments echoed remarks made earlier by her star player, A'ja Wilson, who suggested that race could be a factor in Clark's popularity. Wilson said that Black women in the league often have to work harder to achieve recognition.
"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," Wilson said. "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."
Hammon clarified her stance in a subsequent interview, explaining that she believes Black and brown greatness has not been adequately celebrated or valued. She emphasized that while Clark should be given credit for her achievements, the attention she receives also highlights the disparities in coverage of women of color.
"What it does is, it has highlighted how Black and brown greatness has not been celebrated or valued as much. That's what I was talking about," Hammon said.
Her comments have sparked discussions about the ongoing need for greater representation and recognition of Black and brown athletes in the media. Clark, for her part, has stated that she is focused on her performance and hopes that increased attention on her and other players will ultimately benefit the entire league.
"I think the more attention we can get on every team around this league, that's only going to help me get better and better. "My job is just to continue to show up and help this team get better. We're fighting for our first win. That's my main focus," Clark said.
