Caitlin Clark and Serena Williams (Photos via Getty Images)
Caitlin Clark has responded to Serena Williams’ “white people” joke following an eventful ESPY Awards ceremony.

The former tennis star hosted the event on Thursday night and made several jokes, one of which was about Clark’s white fans.

“Caitlin Clark had an amazing year and is nominated for three awards,” she said. “Caitlin, you are the Larry Bird in that you are an amazing player, you have ties to Indiana and white people are really crazy about you.”

#ESPYS24 host Serena Williams name dropping Caitlin Clark in her intro

“You are the Larry Bird in that you are an amazing player, you have ties to Indiana, and white people are really crazy about you” 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Hz1nmFpfYF

— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) July 12, 2024

As expected, not everyone found it funny, with some considering it divisive.

Clark, however, didn’t have any issues with the quip and praised Williams for her hosting job.

“Obviously Serena did a tremendous job hosting,” she told reporters, per Athlon Sports.

Caitlin Clark Wondered Out Loud How Serena Williams Wasn’t The First Woman To Win The Best Record-Breaking Performance Award At The ESPYs

Clark also claimed to be of the view that Williams should have been the first female to win the ESPY for Best Record-Breaking Performance.

“Yea I didn’t know that until my little brother sent it to me this morning. I think it’s pretty cool,” she added. “It probably shouldn’t have been the first woman to win that award, in my eyes. I grew up supporting so many different female athletes who I idolized and I loved. The amount of records I’ve seen broken, like how did Serena Williams never win that award? It’s crazy.” 

Clark won said accolade on the night, the first female ever to do so, as well as the Best Women’s College Athlete Award. She was also nominated for the Best Women’s Athlete Award, but that one went to Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.

Which Are Team USA Basketball’s Debutants for the 2024 Paris Olympics? Everything You Need to Know

Team USA (Image source: Getty Images)
Team USA enters the Paris Olympics with a star-studded roster, boasting twelve players with NBA experience. This impressive lineup includes three NBA stars making their Olympic debuts: Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton.

Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid is originally from Cameroon. But he chose to represent Team USA over his native country. The Philadelphia 76ers star, who moved to the United States at the age of 16, made this decision due to his son’s American citizenship.

Embiid was drafted by Philadelphia and played eight seasons for the 76ers. Throughout these years, he averaged 27.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 433 regular-season games.

Anthony Edwards

(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves standout, will also make his Olympic debut in Paris. Edwards was the first overall pick out of the University of Georgia.

According to StatMuse, the Timberwolves star has averaged 22.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists over four seasons with the team.