Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark condemned harassment towards players and coaches in the WNBA on Friday, in the midst of a fresh saga over player safety on and off the court that has engulfed the league over several days.
Clark’s fans were left fuming after referees did not call a foul on Phoenix Mercury’s six-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas during a 24 June game, where she made contact with Clark’s throat.
The league gave Thomas a one-game suspension for a Flagrant Foul 2 a day later, though Fever coach Stephanie White criticized the referees for missing the call live, saying that the league was failing to protect a generational talent.
The fallout spilled into this week when Thomas said she had been subject to death threats and racist abuse over the incident.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert issued a statement on Tuesday condemning “any and all forms of hate”.
“Harassment, hate, none of that is OK. That goes for the opposing teams we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches,” Clark said Friday, speaking to members of the media for the first time in several days. “There should never be question of character, like I’ve always stood up here and said that, and that’s truly what I believe, that’s how I was raised. So, none of that is OK and I don’t want anyone to experience that.”
Clark fueled unprecedented levels of fresh interest in the women’s game through her record-breaking collegiate career. But the surge of popularity in the WNBA has left many players feeling vulnerable in the growing spotlight.
The WNBA announced a program to ensure player safety – both online and in-person – last year, after players complained that racist and sexist abuse had become an unwanted byproduct of the popularity.
“I think for the league as a whole, there’s been so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia – straight-up hateful nonsense, and it is absolutely unacceptable,” Fever coach Stephanie White said during a two-minute opening statement at practice Wednesday. “Most of it is coming from the online community. In my heart of hearts, I believe most of it is not coming from WNBA fans or Indiana Fever fans.”
Clark said she’s been hurt by all of the narratives created online and in the media about her and her Fever teammates.
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“It can be really frustrating to me at times and it’s difficult,” Clark said. “A lot of people sometimes think I’m a robot. I’m not a robot. I have emotions, I have feelings. And it can be really difficult to go through a lot of that. I’m 24 years old, trying to navigate a lot … there are times that it is hard, and there are times that, you know, it probably affects me a little bit more than I do put on.”
Clark reiterated calls for officiating to improve in the league. While she did not mention Thomas by name in her remarks, she said she regretted how the incident and its subsequent fallout had engulfed media coverage.
“I turn the TV on Sunday and that game was on Wednesday and that’s all people are still talking about. And I feel like that’s just a real disservice to our league,” said Clark.
“Then for the narrative to be taken other places, it’s just really not acceptable. I think it’s just hard to see.”
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