A'ja Wilson, the newly minted 2025 TIME Athlete of the Year, sat down for an interview with the publication that was released on Tuesday. The award was a celebration of the Las Vegas Aces superstar’s incredible accomplishments, but Caitlin Clark’s name inevitably surfaced.Journalist Sean Gregory, who interviewed Wilson, wrote:“Clark’s emergence created a toxic, racially divisive narrative that she was almost singularly responsible for salvaging a league whose foundation had been built by a mostly Black player base.”The report continued that A'ja Wilson was “bothered by that narrative,” prompting the Aces superstar to win a 2024 Olympic gold medal and the MVP.Wilson reacted:“It wasn’t a hit at me, because I’m going to do me regardless. I’m going to win this MVP, I’ll win (an Olympic) gold medal, y’all can’t shake my résumé. It was more so, let’s not lose the recipe. Let’s not lose the history. It was erased for a minute. And I don’t like that.In 2024, Caitlin Clark’s rookie campaign in the WNBA saw a surge in viewership and attendance numbers. Multiple teams moved to different venues to accommodate the demands of fans who wanted to watch the Indiana Fever point guard play. Clark topped the All-Star fan voting by a large margin over teammate Aliyah Boston while Aj'a Wilson finished third.Gregory also noted that viewership in 2025 increased by “5% to 6% on a per-game average” despite Clark playing just 13 games. When asked for her comment, the 6-foot-4 forward responded:“Sometimes you need a proof in the pudding. The biggest thing for us, and why I was so happy, is that we continue to rise to the occasion. This was just a matter of time for us to really bloom and blossom. Because we have been invested in each other and our craft for a very long time. ... It was just like, ‘They’re going to pay attention.’”Caitlin Clark's impact has been undeniable, though. TIME recognized her accomplishments, making her its 2024 Athlete of the Year, the first WNBA player to earn the distinction.A'ja Wilson played for Team Caitlin Clark during 2025 All-Star GameAs the top vote getter of the 2025 WNBA All-Star game, Caitlin Clark made the first pick of the All-Star draft. Unsurprisingly, she named Fever teammate Aliyah Boston to her team first. Clark added A'ja Wilson and Satou Sabally as her starters.However, the highly anticipated team-up between Clark and Wilson did not happen, frustrating fans. A groin injury kept the point guard from playing in the annual event.Clips of A'ja Wilson having fun with Caitlin Clark on the bench gave fans something to cheer about.