Did Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic or Aryna Sabalenka deserve to be named TIME 'Athlete of the Year' over Caitlin Clark?
Female basketball player Caitlin Clark has recently been named the TIMES magazine's Athlete of the Year for 2024. The 22-year-old American, who made her debut in the WNBA this year, has emerged as one of the most popular faces in US sports in recent history.
Clark had broken several records at the college level before making her WNBA debut for Indiana Fever. With her arrival, WNBA's viewership has increased 48 percent this year compared to 2023.
Moreover, Clark averaged 19.2 points per game and had an assists-per-game ratio of 8.4: the highest in the WNBA this year.
While all these numbers are quite impressive and praiseworthy, there were other mighty contenders for the "Athlete of the Year" award at TIME this year. Let's take a look at the factors that might have pipped the scales in Clark's favor.
Basketball is more popular in the US than tennis:
Basketball is one of the three most popular sports in the United States and its popularity might have swayed the result in Clark's favor. While tennis is also quite popular in the US, basketball probably attracts a wider audience.
Moreover, none of the US tennis players - male or female - managed to win a Grand Slam in 2024, with Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula losing the final at the US Open. Hence, quite understandably, the TIMES focus might have zeroed in on basketball this time.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz: 2024 at a glance
Jannik Sinner had a near-perfect season in 2024. The Italian won eight ATP singles titles this year, including two Grand Slams and three Masters 1000 titles. Not to mention that he became World No. 1 and has been able to maintain the ranking throughout the season. The 23-year-old finished the year with a spectacular 73-6 win-loss record.
Alcaraz, too, had a special year. He picked up two Grand Slams this year, including a successful title defense at Wimbledon. The 21-year-old also won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris. Novak Djokovic won the gold in Paris, but had an otherwise underwhelming year by his lofty standards, failing to win any ATP title.
Aryna Sabalenka also won two Grand Slams this year, strengthening her claim as the best hard-court player in women's tennis. Her achievements might be on par with Clark this year, if one strictly considers on-court exploits. Notably, Clark failed to make it to the US Women's Olympic team for basketball in the 2024 Paris Games.
Hence, while Caitlin Clark has had a stupendous debut year in the WNBA, the "TIMES Athlete of the Year" award for her might not be as straightforward for everyone. And though Sinner has had a brilliant record in 2024, he has also attracted a fair share of controversy this season. It is fair to say that the choice among fans will remain divided for the year.