United States’ soccer legend Megan Rapinoe has backed Caitlin Clark in the latest WNBA racism row after the 22-year-old admitted white privilege exists in professional basketball after being named Time’s Athlete of the Year.

The Indiana Fever ace said that she thinks her success is her own, but confessed that there are extra challenges black people face within the sport at the end of a debut season that has been dominated by race.

For the months since May, Clark’s success in the sport and positioning as the face of the WNBA has received a back lash with critics arguing that the African-American stars of the game have to try even harder to get the same recognition, names such as Angel Reese or A’ja Wilson.

There are others who argue that the 22-year-old’s fans and numbers speak for themselves, rather than her fair complexion being the key to her success. For the Rookie of the Year, it’s more nuanced as she says both factors are in play.

And her admission that there is racism and white privilege within the sport has not been well-received either, with conservatives and right-wingers decrying the comments to Time as unnecessary. However, Rapinoe gives her full backing.

“Well, I think something that sort of stands out immediately,” Rapinoe told A Touch More. “I think what Caitlin did was speak explicitly about her white privilege. Like, and that is what is receiving so much criticism or backlash.

“And like that is the lesson. So you know, for conservative media coming at her now, that obviously they’re just showing their whole a**.

“If fans are upset about her saying that and just acknowledging what is true, I think that says a lot.”

Clark capable of ignoring racism storm

Despite commenting on the issue to Time, Clark still believes her own success through the NCAA and into the WNBA is her own, despite admitting the league has been built on the efforts of black hoopers.

But she will not be drawn into commenting on the topic of racism if she doesn’t want to, as she made it perfectly clear she only cares about what those close to her think and that she can block out the noise if she wants to.

“I feel like one of my best skills is just blocking things out,” Clark added to Time. “The only opinions I really care about are the people I love.

“My teammates, my coaches, the people inside our locker room, the people I see every single day and I know have my best interest at heart.”