Silver says Clark has been pulled into political fight over WNBA play
The NBA commissioner said Caitlin Clark is being treated unfairly as debate over officiating and physical play follows a Fever-Mercury incident.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
2 min read
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Caitlin Clark has been drawn into a political fight around the WNBA that goes beyond one officiating decision. His comments add a prominent league voice to a debate that has grown around Clark, physical play and how officials handle games involving the Indiana Fever guard.
Silver spoke Thursday during an onstage interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the Game Plan Summit, an event presented by CNBC and Boardroom. He said the arguments surrounding Clark are “not largely about officiating,” even though a recent play involving Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas helped fuel the latest round of criticism.
Silver said he has gotten to know Clark and described her as both an outstanding player and person. He said Clark wants to concentrate on improving, while public discussion around her has moved into a broader political argument.
“She has become a bit of a political football in this country, and I think it’s incredibly unfair to her,” Silver said. He also described the discussion as “political ping-pong” and said the focus on a single foul has created a separate storyline around Clark.
The incident Silver referred to took place June 24 during a game between the Fever and the Mercury. In the second quarter, Thomas made contact with Clark’s throat with her fist. Officials did not call a foul during live play.
The WNBA later reviewed the play, upgraded it to a flagrant foul and suspended Thomas for one game. The league said Thomas had “recklessly” made contact with Clark with her fist.
Thomas later said the contact was accidental. She has also said she received death threats and racial slurs after the play, and she criticized WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for what Thomas viewed as a lack of protection for players in the league.
Clark and Fever coach Stephanie White have both condemned threats directed at Thomas. Their comments came as the discussion around the play moved beyond basketball judgment calls and into questions of race, politics and player safety.
Clark’s arrival in the WNBA has brought major attention to the league, with increased ticket sales and television ratings tied to her rookie season. At the same time, debate around her has often stretched beyond her performance on the court.
Silver said the WNBA still has work to do with officiating. Asked about that issue, he said there was “no doubt” the league needs to improve, while maintaining that the controversy around Clark cannot be reduced to whether one play should have been called differently in the moment.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.