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Former NBA doctor warns of dire consequences for Caitlin Clark if hard contact issues continue
Fox News ^ | July 2, 2026 | Jackson Thompson

Posted on 07/02/2026 1:11:51 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Former Philadelphia 76ers orthopedic consultant Dr. Nicholas DiNubile sent a stark warning to the WNBA about the fate of superstar Caitlin Clark.

Clark is currently out with a back injury, and concerns about her physical wellbeing have surged into a national controversy over the last week after she was punched in the throat by an opposing player in her last game, and referees didn't call a foul.

Clark has faced a history of controversial contact since coming into the league in 2024.

DiNubile admits he is troubled by what he has seen.

"The type of contact and the amount of contact that she gets is concerning to me. It’s troubling to me," DiNubile told Fox News Digital, addressing the risks of the recent punch against Clark's throat by Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas.

"You can crush someone’s larynx with very little pressure. Ten to 20 pounds of pressure can damage the throat or larynx area. Even if you don’t fracture the larynx, a blow to that area, you could get some swelling or bleeding and close the airway and get into a very rapid life-or-death situation," he said. "I wouldn’t want to be the team doctor having to deal with that. That’s what keeps us up at night, those kind of things that you have to respond to on the court... you can’t go for the throat."

But the doctor warned of other danger from similar hits to the one Clark has previously endured in the pros.

"She gets a lot to her face. She gets poked in the eye. She gets hit in the face," DiNubile said. "And they also, with her three-point shooting... there's a lot of where they get in her space and her landing space. You see that way too often and that's very, very dangerous.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: clark; hardfouls; racism; wnba
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To: nesnah

Nappy headed Hos


41 posted on 07/02/2026 4:50:25 PM PDT by al baby
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To: Getready

WWBA


42 posted on 07/02/2026 4:54:13 PM PDT by al baby
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To: al baby

World Wide Basketball Association? Or....IWBA...womens basketball is pretty big in Europe and Asia. Strong in Argentina and Brazil. Could probably get 16 strong teams with a 48 game season. And world wide championship tournament for top teams. Someone needs to give it a go.


43 posted on 07/02/2026 5:21:10 PM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Dr. “DiNubile”...seriously? All the good names were taken?


44 posted on 07/02/2026 6:17:42 PM PDT by pingman (Hi Ho Silver! AWAY!)
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To: Getready

White Woman Basketball Association


45 posted on 07/02/2026 6:19:34 PM PDT by al baby
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To: MinorityRepublican

Feminazi league, to borrow from Rush.


46 posted on 07/02/2026 7:05:21 PM PDT by TiGuy22
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To: frank ballenger

This crap could all be stopped in one day if the referees were honest and the owners.

1. Let it be known the refs will call all fouls regardless of who does it and fire those that do not.

2. Let it be known that intentional fouls will get your ass sidelined for many games and no money.

3. Let it be known that intentional fouls that cross the line to assault will be prosecuted as assault. A fist to the throat is assault.

4. Owners should make it clear to his or her team that contracts will be nullified for flagrant offenses. Write it into the contracts.


47 posted on 07/02/2026 9:41:52 PM PDT by cpdiii (cane cutter, deckhand, oilfield roughneck, drilling fluid tech, geologist, pilot, pharmacist, MAGA)
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To: cpdiii

I forgot to add, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were fierce competitors on the court. The were dear friends off the court. What the hell has gone wrong with the WNBA?


48 posted on 07/02/2026 9:49:47 PM PDT by cpdiii (cane cutter, deckhand, oilfield roughneck, drilling fluid tech, geologist, pilot, pharmacist, MAGA)
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To: TangoLimaSierra
If they had decent refs this could end. They should have a replay camera on her at all times to show the refs when they honestly miss an infraction.

The refs know they are not calling flagrant fouls. They are being pressured but I know not from whom but it is deep withing the WNBA governance.

49 posted on 07/02/2026 9:56:27 PM PDT by cpdiii (cane cutter, deckhand, oilfield roughneck, drilling fluid tech, geologist, pilot, pharmacist, MAGA)
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To: KierkegaardMAN
... my body behaves like it’s 90

The body never forgets.

50 posted on 07/02/2026 9:58:59 PM PDT by Nachoman (Proudly oppressing people of color since 1957.)
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To: OrangeHoof

BTW “chimp-chicks” is clever.


Thanks. Kinda rolls off the tongue nicely.


51 posted on 07/03/2026 6:13:10 AM PDT by nesnah (Infringe - act so as to limit or undermine [something]; encroach on)
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