Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever guard, publicly condemned harassment directed at WNBA players and coaches on Friday, as the league grapples with a fresh saga over player safety both on and off the court. The controversy erupted after a June 24 game where Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas made contact with Clark's throat, but referees did not call a foul. The league later suspended Thomas for one game for a Flagrant Foul 2.
Referees Missed Call, Coach Criticizes
Fever coach Stephanie White criticized the referees for missing the call live, stating that the league was failing to protect a generational talent. The fallout intensified when Thomas revealed she had received death threats and racist abuse over the incident.
Clark's Statement on Harassment
In her first media appearance in several days, Clark said, “Harassment, hate, none of that is OK. That goes for the opposing teams we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches. There should never be question of character, like I’ve always stood up here and said that, and that’s truly what I believe, that’s how I was raised. So, none of that is OK and I don’t want anyone to experience that.”
WNBA's Response to Abuse
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a statement on Tuesday condemning “any and all forms of hate.” The league had already announced a program to ensure player safety—both online and in-person—last year after players complained that racist and sexist abuse had become an unwanted byproduct of the sport's growing popularity.
Impact of Popularity on Players
Clark's record-breaking collegiate career fueled unprecedented interest in the women's game, but the surge in WNBA popularity has left many players feeling vulnerable in the spotlight. Fever coach Stephanie White noted, “I think for the league as a whole, there’s been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia – straight-up hateful nonsense, and it is absolutely unacceptable. Most of it is coming from the online community. In my heart of hearts, I believe most of it is not coming from WNBA fans or Indiana Fever fans.”
Clark's Personal Struggles
Clark admitted that the narratives created online and in the media have hurt her and her teammates. “It can be really frustrating to me at times and it’s difficult. A lot of people sometimes think I’m a robot. I’m not a robot. I have emotions, I have feelings. And it can be really difficult to go through a lot of that. I’m 24 years old, trying to navigate a lot ... there are times that it is hard, and there are times that, you know, it probably affects me a little bit more than I do put on.”
Call for Improved Officiating
Clark reiterated calls for better officiating in the league. While she did not mention Thomas by name, she expressed regret over how the incident and its fallout dominated media coverage. “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.”
