Indiana

Caitlin Clark's fame accused of being earned through 'race and sexuality' by ex-ESPN host

Published

2 years ago

May 21, 2024

Caitlin Clark's fame accused of being earned through 'race and sexuality' by ex-ESPN host

Caitlin Clark, who dominated the NCAA throughout the last year as she broke all-time shooting records held for decades before being selected as the overall first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has been told her fame is to do with her “race and sexuality” by an ex-ESPN host.

Jemele Hill, who worked for the network between 2006-2018, suggested that the Indiana Fever star hasn’t totally earned her own status as the face of the WNBA, despite her dominant college run resulting in sold-out arenas as people clamoured to watch her star for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Caitlin Clark tense moment with teammate after showing up late to press conferenceParker Johnson

Hill believes that it’s to do with the 22-year-old being both white and straight as the WNBA possesses a reported 70% total of black players and around 33% LBGTQ+ members, yet it’s Clark who has become synonymous with the league.

“We would all be very naive if we didn’t say race and her sexuality played a role in her popularity,” Jemele Hill told the LA Times. “While so many people are happy for Caitlin‘s success – including the players; this has had such an enormous impact on the game.

“There is a part of it that is a little problematic because of what it says about the worth and the marketability of the players who are already there.”

Clark‘s success manifesting in the form of a contract with Nike worth an astonishing $28m as she helps breathe life into women’s basketball is also problematic, believing it is overlooking black women.

“There’s plenty of room to highlight and celebrate Caitlin Clark‘s popularity,” Hill added. “While also discussing ways in which to not erase black women from a league that they have built and continue to build.”

Clark’s in the middle of a racism storm

Hill is far from the first person to talk about how Clark is a model marketing tool for the WNBA to appeal to a wide audience from the American and western world population, as she builds upon comments made by A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces.

Wilson could feel aggrieved by the popularity around Clark as the 27-year-old, who was selected as the first pick of 2018, has managed to become a two-time champion with the Aces, a Finals MVP and two-time WNBA MVP but she doesn’t enjoy the same amount of fame as Clark does.

“I think it’s a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it’s not about black and white, but to me, it is,” Wilson said to media. “It really is because you can be top-notch at what you are as a black woman, but yet maybe that’s something that people don’t want to see.

“They don’t see it as marketable, so it doesn’t matter how hard I work. It doesn’t matter what we all do as black women, we’re still going to be swept underneath the rug. That’s why it boils my blood when people say it’s not about race because it is.”

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Related Topics:Agency_SAM Caitlin Clark - English Euan Burns - SAM English Featured Indiana Fever - English indiana-fever WNBA - English

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Indiana

Hobart police officer rescues family from house fire

Published

24 minutes ago

June 1, 2026

Press Room

Hobart police officer rescues family from house fire

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team

Monday, June 1, 2026 3:34AM

NW Indiana police officer rescues family from house fire

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) — A northwest Indiana family is safe thanks to the heroic actions of a Hobart police officer.

Adam Zormier rescued a woman and four children from a burning home.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

ABC7 talked to Zormier, who told us he was on patrol in Hobart on Sunday when he noticed heavy black smoke in the air.

He discovered it was coming from the windows and roof of a house in nearby Merrillville.

A Good Samaritan helped him knock on doors. When there was no answer, he forced his way in.

Zormier was treated for smoke inhalation. No one was seriously hurt.

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Indiana

Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport

Published

11 hours ago

May 31, 2026

Press Room

Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport

(WXIN/WTTV) — An EMT working for an Indiana ambulance service has been arrested after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old while transporting them to the hospital.

Ronald D. Elliott Jr., 37, was officially charged Wednesday with a slew of child sex crimes. Online jail records show Elliott, who lives in Dunreith, was arrested Thursday and booked into Delaware County Jail without bond.

Booking photo of Ronald Elliott Jr. (Delaware County Jail)

The arrest stems from accusations made by a 14-year-old who told police that Elliott sexually assaulted her in the back of an ambulance during a February transport from Muncie to Monroe County.

The alleged victim came forward on March 16 and told Indiana State Police investigators that an EMT had forced her into sexual contact while taking her to a medical facility in Bloomington.

The juvenile said that Elliott, who is listed as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service, began showing her pictures and videos on his cell phone during the transport. The files reportedly included photos of Elliott’s genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activities.

Elliott is then alleged to have groped the teenager under her clothes and exposed himself to her. The girl said this led to Elliott sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while en route to Bloomington.

The 14-year-old said that, after the assault, Elliott provided her with his “Mr. Fogger” nicotine vape as well as his phone. The girl told officers she signed into her Instagram account on Elliott’s phone, and court documents state she failed to log off after leaving the ambulance.

It was through the girl’s Instagram account that Elliott allegedly found a second juvenile victim. Identified as Victim 2 in court documents, Elliott reportedly began messaging the 13-year-old girl on Instagram. Throughout his conversations, the 37-year-old EMT is alleged to have:

Called the juvenile a “young sl-t”
Lied about his age, claiming he was 18 years old
Sent a picture of himself only wearing a towel
Made “sexually suggestive” comments about “good naughty girls”
Told the 13-year-old girl she “looks cute”

During an interview with Elliott conducted on March 25, the EMT reportedly admitted to letting the 14-year-old use his phone and nicotine vape. However, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and said that any nude images she may have seen on his phone were an accident.

After uncovering “corroborating evidence” from both Elliott’s cell phone and the victim’s Instagram account, police requested that a warrant be filed for his arrest. Online court records show that the warrant was granted on Thursday.

Indiana State Police said that Elliott was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop. Delaware County Jail records show Elliott was booked around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He now faces the following several Level 4 felony charges including child seduction, child solicitation, and sexual conduct with a minor.

No other information was included in the probable cause affidavit filed against Elliott.

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