Tennis icon Chris Evert has doubled down on her support for Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, publicly asserting that the WNBA should do more to celebrate the 24-year-old’s transformative impact on women’s basketball. Evert, who has championed the guard since her standout collegiate career at the University of Iowa, recently backed claims on social media that the league has failed to grant the athlete the recognition she deserves. The tennis legend has once again rallied behind Clark and shared her opinion on how the 24-year-old should be treated by the league. A user on X shared a graphic celebrating the achievement and claimed that the WNBA did not give the Indiana Fever star the acknowledgment she deserved.
The discussion was sparked by an online post highlighting a Forbes list from last year that named Clark the most powerful athlete in women’s sports. The social media user argued the WNBA had neglected to properly acknowledge this status, a sentiment Evert echoed by declaring that the league should actively celebrate her accomplishments. Evert has consistently advocated for a shift in perspective, previously urging fellow WNBA players to fully appreciate that Clark represents the most significant development in the history of the women’s game.
Following the Indiana Fever’s recent first-round elimination from the WNBA playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces, Clark shared a heartfelt message of gratitude with her supporters. In response to her performance and broader influence, the 18-time Grand Slam champion praised the young star, calling her the “GOAT” of her field.
Beyond her advocacy for Clark, Evert has recently used her platform to combat online harassment in professional sports. She recently stepped in to defend Coco Gauff, who faced significant backlash and abuse following a controversial incident at the China Open. During that match, Gauff stopped play during a rally because she was distracted by a flickering court light, which resulted in the point being replayed and ultimately won by the American.
Evert condemned the vitriol directed at the 22-year-old, labeling the attacks as “disturbing” and standing firmly against the “haters.” Her defense of Gauff resonated across the tennis community, with high-profile figures including Martina Navratilova, Andy Roddick, and Boris Becker also condemning the abuse directed at the two-time Grand Slam champion.
