A group of 11 Republican lawmakers, led by U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on Wednesday “demanding the league take ‘accountability’ for ‘multiple attacks’ against” Fever G Caitlin Clark, according to Kendra Andrews of ESPN.com. In the letter, Clark is “described as ‘the face of your league’ and someone who has generated fan interest, increased television ratings and new corporate sponsors.” It also suggests that Clark is “on the receiving end of ‘unnecessary physical hostility and violence.’” The lawmakers said that they are “concerned by reports that ‘attacks against Clark may be racially motivated.’” The group of lawmakers “requested that Engelbert and the WNBA reply to its letter no later than July 24 with answers to three questions about the league’s review process for ‘physical hostility and violence on the court,’ how the league holds players accountable for ‘overly aggressive acts on the court,’ and what steps the league is taking to protect players from online harassment.” The Fever, though, said that they “were unaware of the letter” (ESPN.com, 7/8). Pfluger added in the letter that if Engelbert and the WNBA “don’t act to protect” Clark, “action from the Department of Justice, Department of Labor or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission could follow” (USA TODAY, 7/8).
NOT INVOLVED: The Fever in a statement said, “Our organization nor Caitlin have had any interaction with anyone in this congressional group and we were unaware of their letter. We have been clear in our public comments and in our ongoing dialogue with the League about the priority of player safety. Our players and our fans know where we stand on those issues and we will continue to stick up for our team and a standard of excellence across the league” (X, 7/8).
OUT OF CONTROL: In Indianapolis, Gregg Doyel writes the “Caitlin Clark culture war has spun completely out of control” now that the “politicians have gotten involved, doing much of the talking and none of the listening.” A mixture of “elected officials and her self-appointed representatives are pushing an ugly narrative of Us vs. Them.” Clark “didn’t ask for this.” Last week she defended “any WNBA player subject to the harassment, the hate, coming from certain corners ... claiming to be supporters of Caitlin Clark.” Doyel: “Has she done all she could to stop it from happening? No, if we’re being honest, she hasn’t done all she could.” There are “stronger statements she could make, but she’s just 24 and has been swept up in cultural currents beyond her control” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/9).
