All articles tagged with #caitlin clark
Dan Patrick criticized WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after she failed to appear for a scheduled interview on The Dan Patrick Show, leaving two hours of waiting before a cancellation attributed to a PR directive; Engelbert later spoke on a Kansas City radio show about expansion, prompting Patrick to say journalists should be allowed to ask tough questions.
An opinion piece arguing Caitlin Clark has been thrust into a partisan spectacle, with Trump-aligned figures and the DOJ using her as a symbol to push white/conservative narratives; Clark’s rise has boosted the WNBA financially but also intensified political pressure, forcing her to navigate a role she did not seek and risking her political privacy.
OutKick claims Dan Patrick promoted a sit-down with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, but Engelbert’s PR team allegedly blocked questions about Caitlin Clark, leading Patrick to accuse the league of cancelling the interview amid Clark’s controversy. The piece places the dispute in a broader context, including Clark’s throat-punch incident, GOP lawmakers’ letter to Engelbert, ongoing debate over the league’s handling of Clark and related issues, Fever coach Stephanie White’s refusal to comment, and the league’s defense of Alyssa Thomas.
Caitlin Clark was ranked 11th among WNBA guards in the All-Star vote, prompting backlash that she’s undervalued. Stacey Dales called the placement insulting and preposterous while praising Clark’s elite, difficult-to-defend game, and noting the voting is a small, multi-group sample that can misrepresent a player’s impact.
The piece explains that Caitlin Clark wasn’t literally voted 11th by players; All-Star starters are chosen by a fan/media/player split (50/25/25) and players vote for four guards and six frontcourt players. Only about 85 of 180 players submitted ballots, so the final '11th' placement reflects guard-vote totals across ballots rather than a single ranking. Clark likely ranked highly on some ballots but was omitted on others, and the flawed voting structure and presentation led to confusion and criticism despite her strong numbers and popularity.
Alyssa Thomas scored 22 points to pace the Indiana Fever to a 92-89 comeback win over the Phoenix Mercury, with Thomas delivering a physical moment against Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham icing the game with late free throws as Caitlin Clark sat out a rest day. The Fever erased two 10-point deficits to beat Phoenix, continuing a heated, physical rivalry between the teams this season.
ESPN’s David Dennis Jr. defends Caitlin Clark against claims of a peer-vote snub, arguing that finishing 11th among guards reflects the four-guard ballot limit rather than her talent. Clark still became an All-Star starter thanks to top fan and media support, while Parker criticized the league’s players. Dennis says the debate is driven by hype, not a real conspiracy, and Clark simply wants to play basketball without being used in culture-war narratives.
Candace Parker criticized WNBA players for ranking Caitlin Clark 11th among guards in the player vote, calling it an insecurity and urging voting reforms (including rules against voting for teammates); Clark still earned a starting spot thanks to fan and media votes, with discussion around ballot-distribution issues and odd placements like Kelsey Plum’s 12th fueling calls for tighter voting rules.
Eleven Republican lawmakers urged the WNBA to protect Caitlin Clark from potentially racially motivated attacks, calling for clear policies on on-court hostility and online harassment and noting possible federal civil rights investigations if discrimination is occurring; the Fever said they were unaware of the letter, while Clark has condemned racist abuse and urged a focus on safety and league excellence.
Caitlin Clark came back from a back injury for Indiana but was kept on a minutes-restriction, playing 16 minutes and scoring 9 points as the Fever fell 106-92 to the Los Angeles Sparks; the plan is to ease her back into game shape to protect her health, which made it hard for her to build a rhythm with frequent substitutions, and Indiana hopes to increase her minutes in upcoming games.
A group of Republican lawmakers led by Rep. August Pfluger sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert demanding accountability after on-court violence against Caitlin Clark, warning of potential DOJ, Labor, or EEOC action if the league does not act; they asked how the league reviews violence, enforces rules, and protects players from harassment, in the wake of Alyssa Thomas's incident and ongoing debate over player safety.
Eleven Republican lawmakers urged WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to address what they call repeated on-court and online attacks against Caitlin Clark, highlighting hip-checks, eye pokes, a throat strike by Alyssa Thomas, and concerns about harassment. They called for better real-time officiating and even potential federal investigations if a hostile work environment is found. Clark and the Fever condemned harassment, and the league defended its stance on protecting players and upholding standards.
Candace Parker says Caitlin Clark’s 11th-best rank among guards in the WNBA All-Star player vote highlights biases in the process, urging rules to curb personal feelings influencing evaluations even as Clark is a near-leader in scoring and assists and earned a start thanks to fan and media support; the debate comes as participation in voting is uneven and players can vote for teammates, potentially skewing results.
A group of Republican lawmakers led by Rep. August Pfluger urged WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to protect Caitlin Clark from repeated hostile play and address safety concerns, praising Clark’s impact on the league while arguing the WNBA must ensure a safe, professional environment. They suggested possible investigations by the DOJ, Department of Labor, or EEOC if discrimination or retaliation create a hostile workplace. The letter references specific incidents, including hip-checks, eye pokes, and a throat strike, and comes amid ongoing scrutiny of officiating as the league rolls out reforms to improve consistency and safety.
OutKick's Zach Dean reports Geno Auriemma downplayed Caitlin Clark’s ability to transform the WNBA, arguing the hype surrounding her is overblown and drawing a comparison to Tiger Woods’ influence in golf. The piece notes Clark’s presence has driven increased attention and, in the post-Clark CBA era, salaries and benefits have risen dramatically (team caps up, max salaries up to about $1.4 million, average pay roughly quadrupled) with changes like charter flights. It frames Clark as pivotal to making the league more profitable, while noting ongoing debate over whether her impact is the sole driver of those gains.