INDIANAPOLIS — Conversations about whether Caitlin Clark is getting officiated fairly in the WNBA can be polarizing as fans, players, coaches, pundits and even lawmakers have opinions about whether the league needs to take some action about the physical play. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Congress is looking for answers by July 24. "Millions of casual fans now tune in to watch her play," 11 members of the House Republican Study Committee wrote in a letter sent to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert. "Unfortunately, what they too often witness is not simply aggressive competition, but repeated acts of physical hostility and violence. Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye and struck in the throat during games. These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable."
It's the latest chapter in the Clark saga about whether league officials must do more to protect one of the WNBA's top players from unnecessarily aggressive physical contact. The letter was sent two weeks after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with her fist to Clark's throat in a June 24 game. Thomas was not called for a foul on the play during the game, but the league subsequently upgraded the play to a flagrant foul and suspended her one game for "recklessly making contact with her fist." League officials have not yet issued a statement in response to the letter. Thomas has called the play a "complete accident," adding that she has received death threats since the incident. Clark and her coach, Stephanie White, an ardent defender of Clark, have condemned threats levied at Thomas. The 24-year-old Iowa alum has helped increase WNBA ticket sales and driven women's basketball television ratings to unprecedented heights with her play. However, many conversations around her tap into a variety of combustible hot-button topics, including race, officiating, money and politics. Clark has largely managed to thrive, but can't completely escape the noise. "I think sometimes people think I'm a robot. I'm not a robot," she said. "It can be really frustrating to me at times. I'm 24 years old trying to navigate a lot."