Caitlin Clark Wins Two 2024 ESPY Awards, Shares Virtual Message

Rising women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark took home two major honors at the 2024 ESPY Awards despite not attending the event. Clark, 22, was honored with the awards for Outstanding Women’s College Athlete and Record-Breaking Performance at the ceremony held on July 11.

Clark received her first award during the red carpet broadcast, where Serena Williams later hosted the show. She then received her second award, beating out NFL player Christian McCaffrey for best performance on record. Unable to attend the event in person, Clark expressed her gratitude through a virtual message.

“I just wanted to thank you for the recognition. Obviously, I couldn’t be here tonight,” Clark said. She explained her absence by saying, “I’m a little busy in Indianapolis.”

She expressed her appreciation for the support of her University of Iowa teammates and coaches, saying, “This award means a lot not only to me, but to my teammates and coaches that I’ve had at the University of Iowa. It’s special for all of us and it’s been a special year in women’s athletics. Thank you, ESPN.”

Clark concluded his message by acknowledging the other nominees and winners, saying, “I just want to thank all of the nominees and winners tonight. I’m sad I couldn’t be there, but I hope you all have a great night.”

Prior to the ESPYs, Clark had received the most nominations, including for Outstanding Athlete, Women’s Sports, Outstanding College Athlete, Women’s Sports and Best Record-Breaking Performance to become the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer.

Clark’s popularity grew following her standout college basketball career at the University of Iowa. In April, she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and made her professional debut with the Indiana Fever in May.

Despite her accomplishments, Clark was not selected for the U.S. women’s basketball team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. She responded to the news in June, telling Indy Star sportswriter Chloe Peterson, “I’m thrilled for the girls that are on the team. I know this is the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way, whether I was on the team or not. I’m thrilled for them.”

Clark added: “I’m going to be rooting for them to win gold. I grew up watching the Olympics, so it’ll be fun to watch.” She stressed that she felt “no disappointment” and saw it as motivation for future opportunities.

Stephen A. Smith defended Clark against criticism related to her popularity, noting in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly: “Race is always something we can’t ignore, but it’s not always a negative thing. She’s white, but she’s also a great basketball player, a great person with a great family background and great business assets.”