Eleven Republican politicians have written to the WNBA, urging the league to protect Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark from what they describe as “multiple attacks” on the court. The letter, led by Congressman August Pfluger, praises Clark as “the face of your league” and highlights her role in driving renewed interest in the WNBA, which has seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
Details of the letter and concerns
The lawmakers express concern that the physical fouls against Clark may be “racially motivated.” Clark is white, while the majority of WNBA players are Black. The letter references an incident where Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas hit Clark in the throat during a game. Thomas was not initially penalized but later received a one-game suspension from the WNBA. Following the incident, Thomas and her family faced racist abuse and death threats.
The letter states: “As Commissioner, you have an obligation to ensure that every player competes in a safe and professional environment, both on and off the court, free from violence, discrimination, or retaliation. If discrimination or retaliation is occurring and creating a hostile work environment, we support any appropriate investigation by the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If true, such conduct could constitute violations of federal civil rights laws.”
League and team response
The WNBA and the Indiana Fever have responded to the letter. The Fever released a statement on Wednesday saying they were unaware of the letter: “Our organization nor Caitlin has had any interaction with anyone in this congressional group and we were unaware of their letter. We have been clear in our public comments and in our ongoing dialogue with the League about the priority of player safety. Our players and our fans know where we stand on those issues, and we will continue to stick up for our team and a standard of excellence across the league.”
Perspectives on racial motivation
Few within the league believe the attacks on Clark are racially motivated. Star players in both the WNBA and NBA often face physical play, especially early in their careers. Black players in the WNBA routinely endure racist abuse online. Clark herself has spoken about her frustration with the narratives surrounding her career. “I turn the TV on Sunday and that game was on Wednesday and that’s all people are still talking about. And I feel like that’s just a real disservice to our league. Then for the narrative to be taken other places, it’s just really not acceptable. I think it’s just hard to see,” Clark said.
Clark has also condemned racist abuse directed at other players. “It’s definitely upsetting. Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism – hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments and threats. Those aren’t fans, those are trolls, and it’s a real disservice to the people in our league, the organization, the WNBA,” she said in 2024.
