Caitlin Clark has garnered a lot of attention, really, since she was dominating the hardwood in college at Iowa, where her performances became a national spectacle. Once March Madness got underway, interest in the women’s basketball player with limitless range multiplied.
So when she was ready to advance to the pros, it came as no surprise when Clark was selected first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. She’s since become a two-time All-Star, but there’s also a lot of controversy surrounding the way she’s been treated by opponents, referees, and the WNBA as a whole.
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WNBA’s Handling of Clark Discourse Attracts Congress
The good news for WNBA fans is that powerful people are paying close attention.
Basketball minds of all types have already called on the WNBA to provide better protection for Clark. Now, Congress is getting involved too.
That includes Indiana House of Representatives member Marlin Stutzman, who recently revealed that Congress is closely monitoring how the WNBA addresses safety concerns regarding Clark.
“We’re watching. If anything else like this happens on the court, especially if it’s targeted toward Caitlin,” Stutzman said.
“We’re going to pay attention. She’s a human being that’s putting her talent and body out on the court. Watching that video, she was in a very vulnerable spot where she could have been stepped on very easily. She was trying to defend herself.”
Stutzman is worried that further incidents could even develop into something like a “physical assault” charge. Obviously, everyone would like to avoid such a situation.
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“If something more happens and it becomes a physical assault situation, the authorities need to step in,” Stutzman added. “There needs to be further questions. If the WNBA doesn’t want to reply, at some point, I could see one of the committees asking even more serious questions.”
Stutzman adds that everyone would prefer the WNBA solve these concerns internally. Yet, if they’re unable to bring a solution, other organizations are preparing to step in.
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“They need to fix this themselves. This is kind of a signal to them with this letter: you guys need to fix this; we don’t want to bring them into Congress. We don’t want the DOJ to go ask questions. Now look, OSHA could step in. That’s their responsibility to keep employees safe in the workplace. That’s what we’re trying to signal. There’s multiple organizations that are going to keep track on the court. If they don’t do it themselves, we’re watching.”
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The WNBA would benefit most from ensuring its best and most popular players, like Clark, stay healthy and in the lineup so fans can watch them in action. Yet, if they can’t take care of their own, it sounds like others are ready to step up to the plate.
