Caitlin Clark's 'problematic' popularity comes from 'race and her sexuality': former ESPN host

Morning Consult brands analyst Ellyn Briggs discusses the upcoming WNBA season and the impact of Indiana Fevers Caitlin Clarks debut season.

Caitlin Clark owes some of her "worth" as a marketable WNBA player to her race and sexuality, according to former ESPN host Jemele Hill.

a Los Angeles Times report suggested.

The Indiana Fever player took the country by storm the past year after setting all-time records for scoring during her senior season of college basketball and becoming the number one pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.

Clark’s success has since garnered massive media attention, with thousands attending her games and millions watching from home. She also signed a lucrative $28 million Nike sponsorship deal shortly after graduation.

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever walks across the court in the first quarter against the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

However, the LA Times wrote Clark's success "draws questions of race and equity" in a league comprised 70% of Black players and nearly a third comprised of LGBTQ players.

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"We would all be very naive if we didn’t say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity," the Atlantic writer Jemele Hill told the LA Times. "While so many people are happy for Caitlin’s success — including the players; this has had such an enormous impact on the game — there is a part of it that is a little problematic because of what it says about the worth and the marketability of the players who are already there."

Hill specifically called out brands like Nike for playing a part in ignoring more diverse players,