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In agreement with Rapinoe, longtime WNBA standout Sue Bird also expressed her support for Clark's accolade. Bird recognizes that Clark deserves the title, emphasizing that acknowledging one's white privilege does not detract from her achievements. Both Bird and Rapinoe advocate for recognizing the interplay of identity factors in sports, with Bird pointing out that being aware of race has been an essential part of her experience as an athlete. Nonetheless, this focus on race elicits divided feelings, particularly when fans feel they can’t appreciate an athlete’s skill without contextualizing it through identity discussions.