Why Texas politician is demanding accountability over Caitlin Clark attacks in letter to WNBA originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As Caitlin Clark has become one of the WNBA’s premier stars, even without her intentions, there’s often been off-the-court drama surrounding her. Now, a Texas politician is getting involved.
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On Wednesday, Texas Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX) shared a letter addressed to the WNBA’s commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, which demanded “accountability” from the league in response to “attacks” against Clark.
A group of lawmakers led by Pfluger, naming some of the hard fouls Clark has received lately, claimed that if the WNBA doesn’t handle any “discrimination,” then the league could face a violation of federal civil rights law.
Here’s what to know about the letter from Texas politicians to Engelbert over the fouls on Clark.
MORE: Stephanie White calls out officiating after Caitlin Clark injury
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Texas politician demands accountability over Caitlin Clark attacks
Although little of it has had to do with her own conduct, Clark has been at the center of controversy lately. On June 24 against the Mercury, Alyssa Thomas made contact with Clark’s throat area, which resulted in Thomas being suspended for one game.
Clark later spoke out about the incident, saying, “I think we really need to do a better job protecting the people in this league.”
Now, a group of Republican lawmakers in Texas are also calling out the WNBA for its officiating of Clark. A letter that was led by Pfluger, but also co-signed by a dozen members of Congress, including lawmakers from Indiana, argued that the WNBA hasn’t fulfilled its “obligation to ensure that every player competes in a safe and professional environment.”
“Caitlin Clark is transforming women’s sports,” the letter began. “She has inspired a new generation of young girls to participate in athletics and has become one of the most influential figures in the history of women’s basketball.”
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The letter specifically centered on the league’s handling of on-court physicality involving Clark.
“Unfortunately, what [fans] 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.”
MORE: Caitlin Clark’s complete injury timeline from NCAA to WNBA
The lawmakers then called out Engelbert alone, saying that “if discrimination or retaliation is occurring and creating a hostile work environment,” then the group would support any investigations into potential violations of federal civil rights laws.
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“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,” the letter reads. “Your fans deserve better, and so do the young girls who look to the WNBA as a model for excellence, sportsmanship, and opportunity.”
Concluding the letter were three questions with a request for a response, asking for specifics on the WNBA’s “review mechanism for physical hostility,” how the league will hold players accountable for “overly aggressive actions on the court,” and details on how the WNBA will protect players from “online harassment and off-the-court threats.”
