Protect her from whom? The other players? How would that work?
My understanding is the opposing players “allegedly” and commit fouls on Clark and the refs turn a blind eye rather than enforcing the rules. Recently, a player received a one game suspension for an obvious punch to Clark’s throat that the nearby ref somehow missed.
I know it’s usually poor form for athletes to complain about fouls. But if the league issues penalties after blatant acts that are not called then the refs are not doing their job properly.
Protect from illegals moves designed to disable and take out of the game. I don’t recall any throat punching in the NBA. Lots of hip checks and bodyweight slams, but no throat punching.
The WNBA could have gone the classy route to ensure fans stuck around after Caitlin left, but they kind of ruined that.
Call them egregious personal fouls and issue fines.
That’s how it would work.
From whom? From opposing players who figure they will be the name of the week to teach CC how she doesn't belong and isn't wanted in the WNBA. I don't know how they figure that, but it's obvious to any casual onlooker. It's like the "inside joke" of the league.
How to protect the league's most valuable asset? Easy. Warnings, fines, and suspensions of players. If they find intentional targeting, start penalizing the franchises up to and including draft picks. Lastly, the ref situation has to be changed, incompetence is not tolerated generally in professional sports. Pretty much everyone has seen more consistent officiating at their local rec department.
It's been a bad look now for the 3rd year running. It is way past time to change the dynamic of the situation.
Oh I dunno, maybe call a foul or two. I have seen some of these fouls against Clark ... should be formal charges pressed for some of them.
“How would that work?”
Call flagrant fouls and eject the players from the game.
Pretty simple really.
L