Caitlin Clark's Epic Year: Was She the Best Athlete of 2024?

The year 2024 was quite a showstopper in the world of sports. The New York Liberty won their first Finals, the Boston Celtics clinched another ring, Rafael Nadal retired, Simone Biles added another gold to her collection, Lewis Hamilton hung up his racing gloves, and the Paris Olympics took place. But surprisingly, it was Caitlin Clark who grabbed the TIME Athlete of the Year award. Even Shohei Ohtani, with his incredible $700 million MLB deal, NL MVP award, and World Series win with the Dodgers, couldn't outshine Clark's achievements. The young star took a mediocre college team to the NCAA Championship and led the Indiana Fever, who hadn’t made the playoffs in years, to the postseason. Sure, the teams didn't win it all, but Clark's contribution was unquestionable. On the other hand, Jayson Tatum was pivotal in the Celtics' 18th championship and their dominance in the league. But rapper Ma$e argued that no one had a better year than Clark, except maybe Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani made MLB history by hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season. Ma$e noted, "She’s not the best in the WNBA, but her year was exceptional. " Ma$e also highlighted that Clark’s rookie season achievements, like helping the WNBA get charter jets and breaking attendance records, were impressive. Yet, critics argue that a national championship or an Olympic spot would have sealed the deal for the TIME AOY title. Who deserved the TIME Athlete of the Year: Caitlin Clark or Shohei Ohtani?