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Caitlin Clark credits Candace Parker as inspiration after major honor
Caitlin Clark has established herself as one of the premier players in the WNBA. She had an incredible rookie season, leading the league in assists and winning the Rookie of the Year award. Her efforts were recognized on Tuesday when she was named AP Female Athlete of the Year.
Clark was given the honor for her influence and impact on the sport. A group of 74 journalists from the Associated Press served as the jury and participated in voting to elect the Fever star as the winner.
While talking to AP on Tuesday, the Fever star credited WNBA icon Candace Parker for inspiring her.
"I grew up a fan of Candace Parker and the people who came before me and to be honored in this way, is super special and I’m thankful. It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports."
Caitlin Clark is the only fourth women's basketball player to receive the honor. She joins the elite company of Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, and Candace Parker who have also won the award.
The Indiana Fever star is currently enjoying her offseason after leading her team to playoff qualification for the first time since 2016 in her rookie year. While off-court, Caitlin Clark has taken a liking to playing golf as her secondary sport.
Caitlin Clark took a stand against racial discrimination after winning TIME's Athlete of the Year
AP's Female Athlete of the Year isn't the only huge honor Caitlin Clark has won this month. On Dec. 10, TIME Magazine announced her as the winner of the Athlete of the Year honor.
The Indiana Fever star took the honor as an opportunity to spread awareness about racial discrimination.
"I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege,” Clark said in an interview with TIME. “A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players."
"This league has kind of been built on them. The more we can appreciate that, highlight that, talk about that, and then continue to have brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible, I think it’s very important. I have to continue to try to change that."
The comments of the Fever star divided the basketball community as she received both backlash and support for her words. Spokespersons and even WNBA icons like Sue Bird leaned in on Clark's statement and expressed their thoughts on it.
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