WNBA legend Sue Bird and former U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe weigh in on the backlash Caitlin Clark’s Talking about white privilege in an interview with Time magazine.

this Indiana Fever The star spoke about what she called white privilege, saying the WNBA was built on black players.

“The more we can appreciate this, highlight this, talk about this and then continue to have brands and companies invest in the players that make this league incredible, I think that’s really important,” Clark said in an interview last week. “I have to keep working to change that. The more we can elevate black women, that will be a beautiful thing.”

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (No. 22) walks past a photo during the game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Arena in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024 background. (Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Clark’s reaction sparked a backlash on social media.

Bird said on the latest episode of her podcast with Rapinoe, “A little more,” The outrage surrounding the white privilege comment proved something to her fans.

“This faction of her fan base that we talked about before is now disgusted by her acknowledgment that it just shows that they were never really here to play basketball,” Bird said. “…By the way, It just proves, to me, that there’s a racial problem in this country, and I think I’ve landed on something.”

Bird then wondered whether the events would spark outrage Clark is involved If she were black, during her rookie season.

“I personally think she should be Time’s Athlete of the Year,” Bird continued. “I think she earned this and she said, yeah, ‘I’ve done enough to earn this,’ and I agree and also acknowledge her white privilege, which is you know you’re talking about your experience, that It’s in my experience that I have to admit it, I’ve won championships, I’ve done these things, and I’m going to admit it.

“To me, this is the world we live in and to say it doesn’t exist is really to say you don’t live in the same world or you don’t see the same things, which is obviously the root of everything we see today. Conversation, not just in women’s basketball, but actually in our country.”

Bird added that ultimately her game was scoreless.

Iowa State to retire Caitlin Clark’s jersey number

Sue Bird, left, and Megan Rapinoe watch during the first quarter of the men’s basketball gold medal match between the United States and France at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris on August 10, 2024. . (Kyle Terrada-USA TODAY Sports)

Rapinoe attacked conservatives in her assessment.

“I think what Kaitlyn does in her quotes or articles is explicitly talk about her white privilege, and that’s why she gets so much criticism or backlash, and that’s the lesson,” the former NWSL star said. “So, You know, for the conservative media that is attacking her now, obviously they’re just showing their full –.

“If fans are upset about her saying that and acknowledging the truth, I think that says a lot. But I think the more times you speak to it directly, the clearer your position becomes, and then you can’t use it in this way It doesn’t really leave your beliefs or positions as a white player open to any sort of interpretation.

“You take up your own space and own your own narrative. I think the other thing that I’ve been trying to think about and realize, and I hope other people realize as well, is that every time there’s a positive story coming out of women’s sports, that field , the kind of quote-unquote realm that was immediately flooded with divisive narratives.

“But for all of us, just realizing that, any time there’s any positive or any honest news in women’s sports, it’s like immediately flooded with crazy and really divisive narratives. I think, like when we as Athletes are used, when your narrative is used, when your preferences are used, when what you say is used.

Lisa Bluder, left, and Kaitlyn Clark talk during Iowa State’s practice for the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament against South Carolina on April 6, 2024. (Zach Boyden Holmes/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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“You know, there’s a similar ecosystem in women’s sports where they really care about the athletes you know, the fans, the owners, the people you work with on the team, etc. Like when have you been exploited by this meta-narrative or These are divisive narratives, be very smart about it.”

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