WNBA Star Who Blamed Race For Caitlin Clark's Popularity Offers New Spin

A'ja Wilson thinks people are overreacting to the Caitlin Clark hype.

Clark, who won her first pro game Friday night, and her fans have been the target of intense scrutiny from WNBA players and the media. Angel Reese has taken subtle shots at Clark and traveling accommodations, Natasha Cloud told new male fans to stop talking, Jemele Hill made it a racial issue and Wilson herself brought up race a couple weeks ago when discussing Clark.

Wilson previously told The Associated Press the following about Clark being white and her appeal:

"I think it’s a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it’s not about black and white, but to me, it is. 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. 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. That’s why it boils my blood when people say it’s not about race because it is."

Now, she's apparently forgotten those comments ever happened.

A'ja Wilson and Becky Hammon discuss Caitlin Clark.

Wilson and Aces head coach Becky Hammon addressed the media Friday with their thoughts on Clark, and it sure was something to behold.

"I think this narrative of everybody hating on Caitlin Clark - and even the black and white thing - knock it off. It's not there. It's not there," Hammon told the media as Wilson nodded along, laughed and claimed Clark isn't "perfect." It's hilarious the WNBA star was just bobbing her head in agreement when race was brought up seeing as how she did that herself.

The Aces star then felt the need to opine about how people are making the situation out to be more than it is.

A'ja Wilson seems to have forgotten her previous comments about Caitlin Clark. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

"She's learning and growing like everyone else. I feel like people don't give her a chance. We tell our rookies every single day, this is new. You're coming into a whole other new world and starting over. So, these questions are only annoying because she's young. She's a rookie. You keep asking us these questions as if she's a grown ass woman that's been in this league for years. No, she's doing her job. We're doing ours and at the end of the day, that's how we grow is when we get better and do things like that. So, yeah, I'm just exhausted over the conversation because I know she's exhausted. I can only imagine," Wilson claimed.

From there, Hammon declared a "mic drop" moment and walked off from the media like she was Eminem in the movie "8 Mile."

You can watch the entire situation unfold below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

This entire video feels surreal to watch. Becky Hammon, as far as I know, hasn't engaged in any race-baiting when it comes to Clark. The player standing right next her definitely has, and yet, she just nodded along as Hammon told people to knock off the race narratives.

She should turn to her right and tell Wilson that. How can Wilson bring up race as the reason for Clark's success just two weeks ago, and then sit here with a straight face telling the media it's exhausting answering questions about the Indiana Fever rookie?

Hammon and Wilson seem to be under the impression Clark's fans are responsible for the sniping. That's not true. It's 100% coming from the other side. Sunny Hostin recently said, "I do think that there is a thing called pretty privilege. There is a thing called white privilege. There is a thing called tall privilege, and we have to acknowledge that, and so part of it is about race, because if you think about the Brittney Griners of the world, why did she have to go to play in Russia? Because they wouldn’t pay her."

Will Wilson or Hammon be calling her out? I doubt it. Instead, we have to pretend like we have no idea where any of the controversies are originating.

Why do people keep attacking Caitlin Clark? (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Wilson could just apologize and move on. Instead, she's offering a spin nobody is buying. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.