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Serena Williams delivered a standout performance in her monologue at the 2024 ESPY Awards.
Hosting this year's event in Los Angeles, the 23-time tennis Grand Slam champion came armed with a plethora of comedic content, including a light-hearted dig at Indiana Fever standout Caitlin Clark.
Williams started by commending Clark, the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, before slipping in a humorous remark. In her rookie year with the Fever, Clark was up for three awards: best women's athlete, best record-breaking performance and best women's college athlete.
"Caitlin Clark had an amazing year and is nominated for three awards," Williams noted. "You are the Larry Bird in that you are an amazing player, you have ties to Indiana and white people are really crazy about you."
Fan reaction to the joke
Clark, occupied with a game for the Fever in Indianapolis on Friday, was not present at the ceremony. Throughout her opening monologue, Williams covered a range of subjects, from the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, to Shohei Ohtani's financial woes with his former interpreter, and the frequent sidelining of women's sports in favor of other major sports leagues-and even cornhole-on ESPN.
Yet, it was the quip about Clark that resonated most on social media, drawing a variety of responses.
"Serena came out in support of CC but then has to provide cover, you know? And Serena is my fav athlete of all time . Ugh," a user wrote.
Another added: "TRYING to be funny and BEING funny are two different things."
"Shame on you, @serenawilliams . What a disgusting comment. Do better," a third commented.