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Unexpected Caitlin Clark News Sparks Outrage

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 7:11 AM ET

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was notably absent from TIME magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People of 2025, a decision that has sparked significant backlash from fans.

Clark, who was named 2024 Athlete of the Year by the publication, has made a remarkable impact on women's basketball, leading her team to record viewership numbers and increased attendance throughout her rookie season.

Many argue that her contributions to the WNBA have been transformative—akin to those made by iconic athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods in their respective sports.

With that, fans took to social media to express their disappointment, questioning how a player with such a profound impact could be overlooked.

"How was Caitlin Clark not included on Time Magazine most influential people?" a fan asked. Another one remarked, "The fact you didn’t include Caitlin Clark on this list, but have Blake Lively."

A follower added, "Caitlin Clark left off Time Magazine's top 100 Most Influential People, It makes perfect sense because they have bad taste!"

"Despite being named Time Magazine's Athlete of the Year for 2024, Caitlin Clark was notably absent from the 2025 Most Influential People list," a supporter shared. "The decision has sparked discussions about the criteria for influence, as other athletes were recognized in her absence."

"Time Magazine Most 100 Influential People list How Caitlin Clark is not on this list is beyond any logic," another critic said.

"Spot on!!! Any influential sports list without Caitlin Clark is trash - zero thought on whoever created the list!" a social media user wrote, agreeing to Colin Cowherd calling the list "nonsense" for not including Clark.

"How in God's name do you NOT have Caitlin Clark on this list? [expletive]," a poster stated.

As the WNBA continues to evolve, Caitlin Clark remains a central figure in the conversation about the growth of women's basketball. With that said, her exclusion from TIME's list will certainly remain a hot topic of discussion moving forward.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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