GOP puts WNBA 'on notice' after recent treatment of star player Caitlin Clark
FILE-Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever dribbles during the first quarter against the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena on June 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Colin Hubbard/Getty Images)
Republican lawmakers are calling for accountability from the WNBA amid recent incidents involving Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and players from opposing teams.
Discussions about the way Clark is being officiated in the WNBA have been debated by fans and analysts and now GOP legislators are weighing in.
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Eleven members of the House Republican Study Committee wrote a letter sent to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert addressing the physical play Clark they perceive the Fever guard is subjected to.
Rep. August Pfluger, in a post on X, shared a copy of the letter to Engelbert from his official account, writing:
"I led my colleagues in demanding accountability from @WNBA Commissioner Engelbert after
MULTIPLE attacks against Caitlin Clark, a player who is transforming women's sports and inspiring a new generation of young girls to participate in athletics."
"I'm putting the league on notice that if it keeps letting the violent targeting slide, they could find themselves facing a DOJ and EEOC crackdown for violating federal civil rights law."
Republicans letter to the WNBA on Caitlin Clark
What they're saying:
In the House Republican Study Committee’s letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert, the group wrote in part," Millions of casual fans now tune in to watch her play. Unfortunately, what they too often witness is not simply aggressive competition, but repeated acts of physical hostility and violence. 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."
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The GOP letter was sent two weeks after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with her fist to Clark’s throat in a June 24 game.
According to The Associated Press, Thomas was not called for a foul on the play during the game, but the league subsequently upgraded the play to a flagrant foul and suspended her one game for "recklessly making contact with her fist."
Thomas called the play an accident, telling reporters that she has received death threats since the incident. Clark and her coach, Stephanie White, have condemned threats against Thomas.
WNBA officials have not yet issued a statement in response to the Republican committee’s letter.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by a social media post from Rep. August Pfluger, who released a copy of the Republican committee’s letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert on his official X page, and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.