"What an utter load of bollocks": Caitlin Clark fans lash out Mystics owner for downplaying Fever star's TIME glory

Caitlin Clark fans didn't take lightly the remarks that Washington Mystics co-owner Sheila Johnson made about her season and the honor she received from TIME as the 2024 Athlete of the Year. During a conversation with CNN on Friday, Johnson downplayed Clark's honor and instead tried to put the spotlight on the entire WNBA rather than just one player.

Her comments didn't sit well with plenty of fans, who quickly clapped back and criticized Johnson for denying that Clark even helped her team gather more people for their games.

"What an utter load of bollocks talking out her arse, did you have to move other Mystic games to the big arena like when you played CC did you f**k, the disrespect towards CC is pathetic, share the award lmao No wonder this league was failing & finally CC gonna fry the Mystics a**," one upset fan wrote.

"then dont move your games against the fever to capital one arena," another fan said.

"The mystics averaged 6500 fans a game. The 2 games Indy came to Washington they averaged 20,500 fans. Be thankful instead of hating," another fan said.

Others said Johnson was disrespecting Caitlin Clark and saying that if it was a black player, she wouldn't have said everything she said.

"For the first time, a female basketball player has been named Athlete of the Year—and rightfully so—bringing well-deserved attention to your league. And yet, you’re still unsatisfied? Unbelievable," one fan said.

What did Washington Mystics owner say about Caitlin Clark?

Sheila Johnson caused quite a stir when she said that Caitlin Clark was pushed into the people's eyes by the media, as she's not the only talented player in the W.

"Caitlin Clark Effect", Johnson said, "It's just the structure of the way that media plays out race... I've seen so many players of color that are equally as talented, and they never got the recognition that they should have. And I think right now, it is time for that to happen.

Then, she said that the entire league deserved the honor that Clark ultimately received, saying that the talent goes beyond Clark.

"Why couldn't they have put the whole WNBA on that cover and said 'The WNBA is the League of the Year', because of all the talent we have?

She added that singling out one player can create hard feelings among their peers. Still, Clark was impactful to the competition and helped it break records in viewership and attendance. She's expected to mark an era for women's basketball, but not everybody is embracing that scenario.