Caitlin Clark Shares Virtual Message After Winning 2 Awards at the 2024 ESPYS: ‘It Was a Special Year’

 

Although Caitlin Clark didn’t attend the 2024 ESPY Awards, the 22-year-old WNBA star still had a memorable night. Clark won two awards, the first being announced during the red carpet broadcast on Thursday, July 11. She received the trophy for Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports, just before Serena Williams took the stage to host the show.

Once the awards ceremony got underway, Clark received her second award for Best Record-Breaking Performance, triumphing over the NFL’s Christian McCaffrey. Although she was out of state, she shared a virtual acceptance speech.

“I just wanted to say thank you for this recognition. Obviously, I could not be there tonight,” Clark told the audience, adding with a smile, “I’m a little bit busy in Indianapolis.”

She gushed, “This award means a lot not only to myself but to my teammates and coaches at the University of Iowa. It’s special for all of us, and it was a special year in women’s athletics. Thank you, ESPN.”

Clark concluded, “I just want to give a shout-out to all the nominees and award winners tonight. I’m sad I couldn’t be there, but I hope you all have an amazing night.”

Ahead of the event, Clark was the most nominated athlete, racking up three nods for Best Athlete, Women’s Sports; Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports; and Best Record-Breaking Performance for becoming the NCAA’s All-Time Scoring Leader.

Clark’s popularity has been on the rise since her impressive run playing college basketball at the University of Iowa. In April, she was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, and she made her professional debut with the Indiana Fever the following month.

Despite her recent prominence, Clark did not make the U.S. women’s basketball team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. In June, she shared her reaction to being left off the roster.

“I’m excited for the girls who are on the team,” Clark told Indy Star sports reporter Chloe Peterson. “I know it’s the most competitive team in the world, and I know it could have gone either way with me being on the team or not. I’m excited for them.”

She added: “I’m going to be rooting them on to win gold. I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics, so it’ll be fun to watch them.”

Clark insisted that she had “no disappointment” over not earning a spot on the team.

“I think it gives you something to work for. You know, it’s a dream and hopefully one day I’ll be there,” she continued. “I think it’s just a little more motivation … and hopefully in four years — when four years comes back around — I can be there.”

“I think, as a society, we have to grow up,” he said in May. “Race is always a component we can’t ignore, but it doesn’t always have to be negative. When you look at Caitlin Clark — yes, she’s white, and yes, she’s getting a level of shine that others before her didn’t get who happened to be Black and they were terrific players — but that’s an indictment against society.”

Smith, 56, noted that the media “is going to go where the story is” and Clark “has done a phenomenal job turning herself into a story,” adding, “She happens to be white, but also happens to be a terrific basketball player, a terrific person with terrific family background with terrific marketability assets.”