Oh boy.
Posted on 07/08/2026 10:03:32 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
The criticism of WNBA officiating has now reached Capitol Hill.
Just days after Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark publicly called on the league to do a better job protecting its players, a group of Republican lawmakers is demanding answers from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
In a letter led by Rep. August Pfluger, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, and co-signed by a dozen members of Congress — including lawmakers from Indiana — the group argued that the WNBA has failed to adequately protect its biggest star from repeated unnecessary physical play.
"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."
The lawmakers also point to Clark's impact on the league's popularity.
"She is also the face of your league," they wrote. "Clark has significantly increased fan interest, driven record television ratings, and attracted new corporate sponsors for the WNBA."
From there, though, the letter turns sharply toward the league's handling of on-court physicality.
"Unfortunately, what they too often witness is not simply aggressive competition, but repeated acts of unnecessary physical hostility and violence," the lawmakers wrote.
The letter specifically referenced several incidents involving Clark.
"Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games," it stated. "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."
The "struck in the throat" reference stemmed from Clark's June 24 game against the Phoenix Mercury, when officials reviewed contact from Alyssa Thomas during a loose-ball scramble but declined to assess a flagrant foul.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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If 'politics (truly IS) downstream from culture', it seems these congcritters are turning around and spitting UPstream, doesn't it?
I've lost interest in most all sports (culture), since they have been polluted with leftist (culture).
EXCEPT for Fever bball, where CC is entertaining to watch - being the female equivalent of Larry Bird, imo.
The commissioner, the refs, heck, even her own coach! DO NOT PROTECT her...only her team-mates, see: Sophie Cunningham...
I'm hard-pressed to recall a more transformative figure in ANY sport, so yeah, selfishly, for my own entertainment that is, I'd like to see her more protected. (Well, for HER safety's sake as well)...
I don’t pay close attention to Women’s basketball, but shouldn’t the referees be on the front lines of this?
Furthermore, nobody cares about women’s basketball, not even the feminists.
Just remember with a few blacks in the gym did when someone flipped televisions from their sacred ESPN to Fox Business during LIVE European midday markets (7 AM hour).
They began assaulting those who put Fox News and Business, claiming all they watch is sports when I saw tonnes of gambling information. They then defended it by saying ESPN owns the gambling service provider (not true).
Feelings are the way black activists work, and they do not want ANYONE who will betray them. Conformity is their demand.
She is set for life so quit or go play in Europe and watch the WNBA tank and go away.
I think she should start giving them a taste of their own medicine.
They’re testing her and so far, she has cried foul and otherwise assumed the fetal position. With no consequences, they will continue to pummel her.
She need to throw an elbow and body check these girls as much as they do to her and maybe that will put an end to it.
Jackie Robinson got no special treatment.
Was he punched in the throat?
Caitlin. The first black woman in professional basketball.
Celebrate pride, hatred.
And the second she did that, I have little doubt that she'd be slapped with a huge fine, multi-game suspension, etc.
Yes.
Some people do that on this website if you express an opposing viewpoint.
A friend of my wife complained about her daughters. The friend is white and married a black man. They have two daughters. One is light-skinned, good looks and has luxurious hair like her white mom. The other daughter has dark skin, afro looks and nappy hair; and is aggressive against her sister and the world, complaining that she got cheated when born.
You’re probably right - there is a cost, but the value is in fighting back.
This is ridiculous. Congress should keep their noses out of it.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII): Outlaws workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
What discrimination? She has a job. She gets paid well.
Oh boy.
Don’t those aholes have anything better to do?
You really want Congress getting involved in the officiating of a sports league? I thought we were all conservatives here. Who want smaller government, and less government involvement in our lives. Guess I was wrong. We have a bunch of nanny Karens instead.
Don't like the law? Petition your Congressman to change the law.
Ultimately, it is going to be up to the Trump Administration to enforce the law.
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