​Barely a week after Alyssa Thomas publicly called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for remaining silent in the face of the threats she received on social media following her foul on Caitlin Clark on June 24, the matter has escalated to Capitol Hill. A formal letter from members of Congress has been addressed to Engelbert, urging decisive action in response to what they described as repeated physical hostility aimed at Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. The Fever, for their part, clarified that they were unaware of the congressional letter and had had no interactions with the lawmakers who signed it. “Our organization nor Caitlin have had any interaction with anyone in this congressional group, and we were unaware of their letter,” the Fever stated, as reported by Chloe Peterson.
“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.” The letter, signed by 11 members of Congress led by U.S. Representative August Pfluger of Texas, highlighted Caitlin Clark’s repeated experiences with what it described as excessive on-court physicality. It cited specific incidents such as hip-checking, eye-poking, and a fist-to-throat foul, using these examples to illustrate a broader pattern of hostility directed at the Fever star.
At its core, the letter argued that the WNBA has not done enough to hold players accountable or to shield its stars from harm, with particular concern for Clark. It also suggested that some of the aggression toward Clark may stem from discriminatory sentiments and urged Commissioner Engelbert to cultivate a safe and professional environment for players. “It is imperative that the WNBA take meaningful action to address this issue. The league has an extraordinary opportunity to inspire the next generation of female athletes to pursue athletics, but that opportunity is undermined when its brightest stars are not adequately protected. Your fans deserve better, and so do the young girls who look to the WNBA as a model for excellence, sportsmanship, and opportunity,” the letter concluded.
The league had previously issued a public statement only after Thomas became the target of threats and harassment on social media in relation to the incident with Clark. As of now, there has been no official response from Cathy Engelbert or the WNBA to the congressional letter, and it remains uncertain whether any action will be taken in response to the lawmakers’ request. The development adds another layer to the ongoing conversation about player safety and accountability within the WNBA, raising questions about the league’s readiness to confront harassment and potential discriminatory hostility directed at its players. The story continues to unfold as both league officials and lawmakers weigh how best to address these serious concerns.