Adam Silver Says Caitlin Clark Became Political Football After 1-Game WNBA Suspension
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 17
Adam Silver Says Caitlin Clark Became Political Football After 1-Game WNBA Suspension
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 17
Summary
Adam Silver said Caitlin Clark has become a "political football" and called the backlash around her "incredibly unfair," urging people to let the Indiana Fever guard focus on basketball.
Thursday's remarks came after questions about a Sports Business Journal report that Silver pushed WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to assess a Flagrant 2 and suspend Alyssa Thomas; a WNBA spokesperson called that report "absolutely false."
The dispute traces to a June 24 Mercury-Fever game, when no foul was called after Thomas made contact with Clark's throat during a scramble; the league later issued a 1-game suspension.
Silver said the larger issue is not one reviewed foul but improving WNBA officiating, while the episode has also brought online abuse and death threats against Thomas and intensified wider political debate around Clark.