Sports often mirror societal debates, with issues like race and privilege taking center stage in heated discussions. The latest controversy was sparked when basketball sensation Caitlin Clark shared her views on basketball history. Though it is not directly related to Gabby Thomas, it all started with Riley Gaines’ tweet, and Gabby’s remark on ‘race dynamics’ in sports turned it towards Thomas.

The responses to this controversy stirred mixed reactions among the sports community. In addition to drawing attention to the continuous complexity of sports, the racism controversy poses more significant queries, such as how sportsmen are supposed to conduct themselves in social situations outside of the court or track.

Gabby Thomas’ take on Black and white controversy

Sports have long been a stage for conversations about race, privilege, and representation, and the recent clash has reignited those discussions. How it all started? Recently American basketball player Caitlin Clark was awarded Time magazine’s Athlete of the Year (December 10). In an interview with the magazine, she said that the WNBA is built on ‘Black players’ and they should be highlighted more. What did she say?

Clark stated, “I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege. A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them.” This thought of Clark’s didn’t go well with former NCAA swimmer-turned-political activist Riley Gaines. What did she say, you may ask?

After Clark appreciated Black WNBA players, Gaines posted, “No one was asking for Caitlin Clark to position herself as a right-wing hero. All she needed to do was remain neutral. She’s a phenom who inspires countless young girls to play & achieve, so I still have great admiration for her, but she missed the mark on this one.” That’s when Gabby Thomas came into the picture; she responded on X, “Girl, are you fr??? You don’t have to share your opinion on everything; just sit this one out.” Is that all?

The former Fox News host, Megyn Kelly, took a dig at Clark through her X post and accused the basketball player. She wrote, “Look at this. She’s on her knees, all but apologizing for being white and getting attention.” Sometimes, things get so intense with such a small praise to others, and that’s what happened in Clark’s remark. Tough Gabby’s take on racism is not much appreciated by many fans.

‘The biggest athletes in the USA are Black:’ Not all track and field fans are in Gabby’s support

The conversation surrounding Caitlin Clark’s comments reflects a larger debate about race dynamics in sports and societal expectations placed on athletes. “Caitlin Clark shouldn’t need to apologize for being white,” one person noted, addressing the criticism she faced. Gabby responded with, “Agreed. Nor should she apologize for acknowledging the POC who came before her and played a significant role in building the league.” Gabby’s take on racism is clear, and to an extent, she is right, as there is no harm in appreciating players who came before them despite their race.

A thought-provoking reaction also followed, questioning Thomas. The comment reads, “Honest question though, Gabby, in what other sports do we see athletes (especially the most popular one in the sport) CONTINUOUSLY having to ‘acknowledge’ those that came before them? It’s tiresome and doesn’t happen except to CC.” Thomas responded, “First of all, she doesn’t ‘have’ to do anything. The same way she doesn’t ‘have’ to remain neutral. I didn’t say anything when she was neutral to be honest, and I’m not going to criticize her now either 🤷🏽‍♀️ but to ignore race dynamics in sport is st… sigh.”  Although Black athletes dominate in many leagues, systemic inequities and cultural expectations often shape their experiences differently.

Other comments shifted the focus to a meritocratic perspective, as the comment reads, “Race has nothing to do with uplifting your sport with having to keep praising the ones before you. We all loved Jordan, but he never had to keep talking about the players before her.” This comment shows a bit of frustration, and even comparing other Black athletes, like Jordan Chiles, and comparing different eras and athletes is not necessary, especially based on race.

Criticizing Gabby Thomas’ acknowledgment of race dynamics, one user commented, “Race dynamics in sports? The biggest athletes in the USA are Black.” Another commented, “Embrace meritocracy, not race dynamics.” Many top athletes, like Usain Bolt, Noah Lyles, Simone Biles, and a very young athlete, Gout Gout, are all Black athletes and doing wonders in their respective sports.

Some reactions even veered into divisive rhetoric, as one sports lover wrote in sarcasm, “Yep, just like Black people being 13% of the population and somehow all making up over 50% of players in the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and soccer. We need more Asian and Latino diversity, but Blacks want it all and play the victim at the same time. 😂😂.” Such remarks dismiss the barriers historically faced by Black athletes and ignore their significant contributions to shaping modern sports. What are your thoughts about racism and partiality in sports based on race? Do tell us in the comments.