US Basketball Player Triumphs Over Simone Biles and Boxer Imane Khelif to Claim Female Athlete of the Year Title | US News

US basketball star Caitlin Clark has been recognized as the Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press (AP) for her significant contributions on and off the basketball court.

The AP, a prominent US news organization, noted that Clark has elevated the visibility of women’s basketball to new heights in college athletics and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Originating from West Des Moines, Iowa, Clark commenced her college basketball journey with the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2020 before moving on to the Indiana Fever.

Explainer:
Who is Caitlin Clark?

She has achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the all-time leading scorer in college basketball history, amassing 3,951 points over four seasons. Earlier in December, she was also honored as TIME magazine’s Athlete of the Year.

Despite her numerous accomplishments and the attention she has garnered for women’s basketball, Clark frequently finds herself at the center of discussions and online negativity directed at her and other players in the league.

In 2024, ticket sales for Indiana Fever games rose by 182% compared to the previous season, with attendance records also being broken.

However, past encounters between Clark and her rival Angel Reese, now with the Chicago Sky, have sparked social media debates touching on basketball, race, and culture.

Both players claim there’s no animosity between them, yet fans and media narratives have intensified tensions, highlighting racial undertones that surfaced during their college career.

“You’d be remiss not to acknowledge how crazy her fan base is… she’s one of the most popular athletes in the world,” commented Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, often seen courtside at Clark’s games.

Clark appreciates the time she spends with fans during games, often taking a few moments before and after to sign autographs.

“For me, it’s still really fun,” she remarked in an AP interview. “Whether it’s 15 seconds or 10 seconds or 5 seconds can have a significant impact on a young girl or boy’s life. Witnessing the fans’ excitement an hour before tipoff, I never take that for granted.”

Clark is only the fourth female player in basketball history to receive the female athlete of the year accolade since its inception in 1931, following Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995), and Candace Parker (2008, 2021).

“I grew up idolizing Candace Parker and those who came before me, and to be honored in this way is incredibly special—I’m grateful,” said Clark.

“This year was remarkable for women’s basketball and women’s sports overall.”

A panel of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its affiliates cast their votes for the award, with Clark receiving 35 votes.

Gymnast Simone Biles came in second with 25 votes. She is the most decorated gymnast ever, including seven gold medals, three of which were won at the Paris Olympics.

Boxer Imane Khelif secured third place with four votes, after claiming a women’s boxing gold medal amid controversial circumstances related to a gender eligibility test.

In other news, on Monday, baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani, who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was awarded AP’s Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, having previously claimed the title in 2021 and 2023.

The Japanese superstar now ranks just behind four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James.

In October, the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their second World Series title in five years, though festivities were overshadowed by incidents of looting and violence.

He inked a record-breaking contract worth $700 million (£558 million) over 10 years with the Dodgers in December 2023.