​Caitlin Clark will be in the lineup when Indiana Fever face the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena after more than a week of discussion surrounding the star player. Clark, who has battled back issues all season, did not take the court Sunday in Las Vegas. Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark is set to play Wednesday against the Sparks.
Earlier in the day, a group of about a dozen Republican lawmakers released a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, contending that the league has fallen short in protecting Clark from rough play. “Unfortunately, what they too often witness is not simply aggressive competition, but repeated acts of unnecessary physical hostility and violence,” the lawmakers wrote. “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.”
When asked about the letter after their shoot-around in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, White stepped aside for team spokesperson Jackie Maynard to read a prepared statement: “Our organization, nor Caitlin, have had any interaction with anyone in the congressional group and 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 these issues and continue to stand up for our team and a standard of excellence across the league.”
In related news, Alyssa Thomas was given a flagrant foul 2 penalty, fined $1,000 and suspended one game at the start of July for pushing her right fist into Clark’s throat when the two collided on the floor during the Mercury’s 111-109 victory on June 24 in Indianapolis. The play initially was not ruled a foul, and a still image of Thomas’ hand at Clark’s throat circulated widely on social media, triggering discussion among basketball fans and insiders alike. In the wake of the incident, Thomas reported receiving online abuse, including messages that were threatening toward her life.
White condemned the “unacceptable” online behavior from fans last week, and Clark echoed the sentiment, saying, “I don’t want anyone to ever experience that.” The letter to Engelbert was led by Texas congressman August Pfluger, who chairs the Republican Study Committee. The lawmakers wrote, “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.”