During the Tribeca Festival premiere of her docuseries ‘In the Arena: Serena Williams,’ tennis legend Serena Williams defended another legend, Caitlin Clark, against critics and jealous peers, asserting that their negativity is a sign of their own shortcomings.
Caitlin Clark set several NCAA records. She became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I basketball history, surpassing Pete Maravich’s long-standing record.
As of her final season, Clark not only topped the scoring charts but also made history as the first player, male or female, to achieve over 3,000 points, 1,000 assists, and 850 rebounds in a career, according to FOX Sports.
Clark also holds the record for the single-season number of 3-pointers with 156 shots made.
Her scoring prowess is further highlighted by her ability to score at least 30 points in more games than any other player over the past 25 years, with 51 such games to her name. She has also scored 40 or more points in 11 games, some of these performances against teams ranked in the top 25 nationally, Yahoo Sports reported.
Serena Williams, a legendary figure in tennis with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, is not just an icon on the court but increasingly a voice of authority in women’s sports. At the event, Williams took a firm stand against the naysayers plaguing Clark’s career.
“I just love that she tries to stay grounded and that she doesn’t … look at her social [media],” Williams said. “I get it. I don’t either. And I think it’s so important to continue doing what she’s doing.”
“If people are negative it’s because they can’t do what you do”
-Serena Williams praises Caitlin Clark in an interview#WNBA pic.twitter.com/eIyhPtJKOF— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) June 14, 2024
Williams suggested that the criticism is often rooted in jealousy.
“And no matter what other people do, if people are negative then it’s because they can’t do what you do … basically,” she said.
“And hopefully, she’ll continue to do what she’s doing.”