TRENDING: “I am one person who is blessed with many skills, talents and many more that I learned myself”. Coco Gauff set to leave tennis at the end of next season. She adds “I want to impart lives in other dimensions”…See details

Coco Gauff has had an extraordinary 2024 season, yet missed out on being named TIME’s Athlete of the Year, an honor that went to Caitlin Clark. Despite the disappointment, Gauff showed her class and sportsmanship by openly supporting Clark, who has made waves in women’s basketball. Clark, named TIME’s Athlete of the Year, also earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year title and set an NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball scoring record. Gauff, previously featured in TIME’s Women of the Year list, expressed genuine joy for Clark’s recognition.

The world No. 3 tennis star had a remarkable year herself, beginning with a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open and ending with her first WTA Finals trophy. Gauff also claimed titles in Beijing and Auckland and made her Olympic debut, where she was honored as Team USA’s flag bearer alongside LeBron James. Despite these accomplishments, the TIME title eluded her, but Gauff remained gracious and supportive.

Clark’s impact on women’s basketball has been transformative, drawing record viewerships to the WNBA. Gauff, a former basketball player in her youth, has been following Clark’s career since her college days at Iowa Hawkeyes.

She even shared her admiration for Clark with the WTA, saying, “I will say if I could go in another life I would love to play at the same time as Caitlin Clark just to see if I could guard her.” Although she admitted it would be a challenge now, Gauff expressed curiosity about how she might fare with training.

Gauff expresses admiration for Clark
Gauff’s enthusiasm for women’s basketball extends beyond Clark. She eagerly anticipated the 2024 WNBA season, mentioning players like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. “I’m just really excited to see Caitlin Clark’s first game, and Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. I’m really excited to see them on the same team too,” she said.

Gauff also highlighted the growing traction of women’s basketball, saying, “It’s very exciting to see the women’s game especially in basketball getting as much traction now. They definitely deserve it.”

Gauff has even connected with some of these athletes through social media. She mentioned being Instagram mutuals with players like Cameron Brink and having exchanged messages with Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers. Her support for women’s basketball and admiration for Clark showcase her sportsmanship and her passion for empowering female athletes across sports.