"White people are crazy about you"- Serena Williams addresses Caitlin Clark's achievements during ESPY Awards 2024 monologue

Serena Williams talked about American basketball player Caitlin Clark's achievements during her opening monologue at the 2024 ESPY Awards. The annual sports awards show, which is produced by ESPN, took place on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Williams was the host of the ESPY awards this year. She became the fourth woman to take on the role after former American professional racing driver Danica Patrick, soccer player Megan Rapinoe, and basketball player Sue Bird. The 23-time Grand Slam champion also became the first African American female athlete to host the show.

One standout nominee at this year's ESPY Awards was Caitlin Clark, who previously played for the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team. Clark received nominations in three categories : Best Women's Athlete, Best Record-Breaking Performance, and Best Women's College Athlete.

Clark took home the award for Best Record-Breaking Performance for breaking the NCAA's all-time scoring leader, breaking Pete Maravich's record. She also won her second consecutive Best Women's College Athlete award for her performance with the Hawkeyes.

At the awards show, Serena Williams talked about Caitlin Clark's achievements during her monologue. She commended Clark, who currently plays for the Indiana Fever, for having an "amazing year" and receiving three nominations.

Williams even compared the 22-year-old to Larry Bird and quipped that "white people" are "crazy" about her. However, the former World No.1's use of race to describe and praise Caitlin Clark sparked backlash among fans.

“Caitlin Clark had an amazing year and is nominated for three awards. Caitlin, you are the Larry Bird, in that you are an amazing player, you have ties to Indiana, and white people are really crazy about you,” Serena Williams said.

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Serena Williams: "I just love that Caitlin Clark tries to stay grounded, hopefully she'll continue to do what she's doing"

Serena Williams

Last month, while talking to the press on the red carpet of the Tribeca Festival premiere of her docuseries, "In the Arena: Serena Williams," the former World No.1 opened up about her admiration for Caitlin Clark.

"I just love that she tries to stay grounded. She said she doesn't look at her social [media], I get it, I don't either. I think it's so important to just continue doing what she's doing, no matter what other people do," she said

Williams noted that Clark appeared grounded to her, which she appreciated. She also shared that she can relate to the 22-year-old's decision to avoid reading social media criticism. She encouraged Clark to stay true to herself and not be swayed by others.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion also said that she hopes that Caitlin Clark will continue to play the way she plays without being deterred by negative feedback.

"If people are negative, it's because they can't do what you do, basically. And hopefully she'll continue to do what she's doing," she added."

Serena Williams herself won 12 ESPY awards over the course of her career. She has been honored as the Best Female Tennis Player 10 times and as the Best Female Athlete twice, in 2003 and 2013.