NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has become a "political football" amid debates about officiating and physical play in the WNBA, spurred by a recent play involving Clark and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas.
Silver's Remarks on Clark
Speaking at the Game Plan Summit presented by CNBC and Boardroom, Silver stated: "Ultimately, the issues around Caitlin Clark are not largely about officiating, and that particular incident is not about whether a foul should have been called at the time in the game or whether that was ultimately a flagrant on review."
Silver emphasized his personal knowledge of Clark, saying: "I have come to know Caitlin really well. She's an incredible player and also an incredible person. And she wants to focus on being the best player she can. She has become a bit of a political football in this country, and I think it's incredibly unfair to her. I don't think that issue is ultimately about officiating. It's become political ping-pong with her. And she's a young woman who's trying to improve her game."
The Flagrant Foul Incident
The play in question occurred during a June 24 game between the Fever and Mercury. In the second quarter, Thomas made contact with her fist to Clark's throat. No foul was called during the game, but the league later upgraded the play to a flagrant foul and suspended Thomas for one game for "recklessly making contact with her fist."
Thomas later described the play as an accident. She also revealed receiving death threats and racial slurs after the incident, criticizing WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect players.
Responses from Clark and Fever Coach
Earlier this month, Clark condemned "the harassment, the hate," stating: "None of that is OK. That goes for the opposing teams we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches." Fever coach Stephanie White also criticized the discussion's tone, noting an increase in "toxicity, racism, homophobia" and other hateful comments, particularly online.
Silver Declines Comment on Suspension Report
Silver declined to comment on a Sports Business Journal report that he persuaded Engelbert to suspend Thomas, saying it would be unfair to Engelbert and Clark. The WNBA denied the report, calling it "absolutely false."
"What people are trying to make a larger issue [about] is not [whether] that was a flagrant foul or not," Silver said. "I don't even think it's fair to her that this has become a separate storyline about one foul." He added: "Do we need to improve WNBA officiating? No doubt about it."
