Over the past couple of years, Caitlin Clark’s presence in college basketball has been akin to a blazing beacon, reminiscent of the legendary Larry Bird’s dominance 45 years ago in the NBA. While Caitlin hasn’t explicitly delved into conversations surrounding race, her transition into the professional basketball sphere has inadvertently thrust her into discussions regarding double standards and racial dynamics.

In a recent discourse, A’ja Wilson, a notable figure within the Las Vegas Aces, shed light on the nuanced treatment that Black women often encounter in sports, juxtaposing it against Caitlin’s seemingly smoother path to recognition. Wilson’s remarks underscored the complexities surrounding race and representation within the realm of athletics.

Caitlin’s rise to prominence not only illuminates the landscape of women’s basketball but also catalyzes introspection regarding racial biases and disparities within the sporting community. Despite Caitlin’s reluctance to actively engage in conversations about race, her mere presence as a white athlete amidst a predominantly Black sporting environment has sparked discussions about privilege, opportunity, and societal perceptions.

Moreover, Caitlin’s meteoric ascent has not gone unnoticed, as she garners lucrative endorsement deals and media attention, further amplifying the ongoing discourse about equity and representation in sports. While Caitlin herself may not be the instigator of these conversations, her journey serves as a mirror reflecting the broader issues of race and identity within the sporting world.

As Caitlin’s trajectory continues to soar, it prompts a deeper examination of the systemic inequalities that persist within athletics. Her story serves as a catalyst for meaningful dialogues about inclusivity, fairness, and the pursuit of equality in sports—a conversation that is long overdue and essential for fostering a more equitable sporting landscape for all athletes, regardless of race or background.

To be clear, Clark is a skilled hardcourt savant from Iowa. Bird was a skilled hardcourt savant from Indiana State. And like Bird, Clark has captivated audiences and brought unmatched attention to women’s basketball with an ability to score from every corner of the court.

Neither Bird nor Clark were the first great white male or female pro basketball players. Jerry West is the actual NBA logo and before Clark, the long list of talented white WNBA players included Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart.

But sports can be elevated by a heated rivalry, particularly when race is involved.

Clark’s rise has come with an on-court bravado that made her must-watch TV as she led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back NCAA championship game appearances. When Bird led the Sycamores to the title game in 1979, he squared off against Magic Johnson in one of the most-watched games in NCAA tourney history.

At Iowa, Clark’s on-court rival in the NCAA Tournament was former LSU star Angel Reese. Then she took on women’s juggernaut South Carolina and coach Dawn Staley. The matchups created the kind of made-for-social media moments that captivated audiences, regardless of gender.

The matchups also led to ongoing discussions about how race plays a factor in the treatment afforded to Clark, a white woman from “America’s Heartland,” as compared to Black counterparts like Reese.

Clark has said she and Reese are just pieces of a larger movement.

“I would say me and Angel have always been great competitors,” Clark said prior to Iowa’s Elite Eight matchup with Reese and LSU in March. “I think Angel would say the same, like it’s not just us in women’s basketball. That’s not the only competitive thing about where our game is at, and that’s what makes it so good. We need multiple people to be really good.”

Still, the race-based debate over perceived slights to Black players or favoritism toward Clark is not going away as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft prepares for her first regular-season game on Tuesday night when Indiana plays Connecticut.

“I think new fans, or maybe returning fans to women’s college basketball, have been drawn in. In part because of Clark. But also, you know, because of the LSU-Iowa rivalry,” said Victoria Jackson, a sports historian and clinical associate professor of history at Arizona State University.

“There are basketball reasons,” Jackson said, “but also there are racial reasons for why Clark has been able to kind of break off into a completely different stratosphere from players that came before her.”