All articles tagged with #wnba
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham went viral after asking on X how to save farmland and stop data centers, drawing about 8 million views and thousands of comments, and triggering backlash from both liberals and conservatives while highlighting tensions over rural land use, Big Tech influence, and environmental priorities in the AI era.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver says Caitlin Clark has become a 'political football' in the U.S., with debates about fouls and officiating in the WNBA shifting toward politics and culture rather than basketball. Incidents like Alyssa Thomas's confrontation with Clark drew penalties and sparked criticism from Fever coach Stephanie White and online abuse, while lawmakers and commentators discussed race and motivation. Silver emphasized that officiating needs improvement but the conversation has turned into a broader 'political ping-pong,' while Clark has condemned harassment and continues focusing on her game.
Adam Silver says Caitlin Clark has been unfairly turned into a political football and should be supported, sidestepping questions about his possible influence on Alyssa Thomas’s suspension. He notes officiating improvements are needed in both leagues and urges Clark to stay focused on playing her best after the June 24 on-court incident and subsequent reaction.
Adam Silver says Caitlin Clark has become a “political football” in the WNBA, with the discussion around officiating and physical play eclipsing her on-court performance. He praises Clark’s character and argues the bigger issue is improving WNBA officiating, not a single foul. The controversy stems from the Alyssa Thomas incident—Thomas’s hit to Clark’s throat was not initially called as a foul, later upgraded to a flagrant and led to a one-game suspension—amid criticisms of league leadership and player protection.
Caitlin Clark criticized the officiating after a no-call she says left her limping with a quad contusion during an 88-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries, a moment that rekindled the ongoing debate over physicality in the WNBA and how games are officiated, as echoed by former players with varying perspectives.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar criticized GOP lawmakers' letter that tagged Caitlin Clark as 'the face of the WNBA,' saying no single player should define a league and that the framing insults other great stars. He argued the controversy should not be racialized and urged Congress and the league to take online abuse of players seriously, noting that Alyssa Thomas and her family faced racist abuse and death threats online after the incident.
The New York Liberty were stranded on a charter plane for about 12 hours due to mechanical issues, forcing the postponement of their road game against the Dallas Wings to Monday. Dallas adjusted with a back-to-back, hosting the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday before facing Liberty. Travel delays, not weather, were blamed for the postponement, and Liberty’s next game is Saturday at Indiana.
The New York Liberty's game against the Dallas Wings was postponed to Monday at 8 p.m. ET after significant travel delays caused by a charter-jet mechanical issue, with weather disruptions at Dallas airports contributing; Wings will honor tickets, and the Liberty canceled shootaround after about 10 hours stranded on the tarmac.
Eight Olympians from the US, Jamaica, and Germany told Fox News Digital that the WNBA must protect players and enforce its rules after controversial incidents involving Caitlin Clark, including a throat punch and her confrontations with referees, arguing the league should focus on fair play and the sport rather than controversy.
A wild WNBA week featured 'Shoe Gate'—Betnijah Laney-Hamilton tossing a shoe to help Jonquel Jones during a Liberty‑Tempo game—sparking chatter about intent and safety; fan mobilization after online harassment of Chelsea Gray led to a Hilton Grand Vacations employee's firing; Chicago Sky faced internal tension as Skylar Diggins questioned resources and took a benching/health stance; Los Angeles Sparks announced a front-office shakeup with GM Reagan Peebly's departure as the trade deadline nears; the episodes underscore the league’s No Space for Hate initiative and the growing power of its passionate fan base.
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark publicly criticized a referee for missing a foul that left her with a quad contusion, saying she had to play through the injury as she finished the game with 13 points and six assists; the incident sparked debate over officiating and Clark’s on-court conduct.
Caitlin Clark argued with a game official after a no-call, contending the Fever weren’t getting the same whistle as the Golden State Valkyries; she returned from a limp on a minutes-restriction, but Indiana fell 88-75 as Clark finished with 13 points, six assists and three rebounds on 1-for-8 from three, continuing a shooting slump.
Indiana Fever (14-9) expect Caitlin Clark to play vs. the Golden State Valkyries but will likely be limited to around 20–25 minutes as part of a cautious load-management approach after back soreness and a recent return from injury; the context comes as Clark has been listed as probable for a 15th time this season, with coach Stephanie White prioritizing long-term health during a busy schedule while Clark aims to reprise a strong showing against the Valkyries earlier this season.
Hilton Grand Vacations fired an employee after he sent Chelsea Gray a racial slur on social media, a violation of company policies. Gray had posted a screenshot of the message following the Aces’ 109-75 loss to the Indiana Fever, and she thanked supporters on Instagram. The incident adds to ongoing discussions about abuse toward WNBA players and calls for stronger league action.
Hilton Grand Vacations fired an employee who allegedly sent a direct message containing a racial slur to Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray after a loss; the company says the person is no longer employed and violated policies, highlighting the ongoing problem of online harassment aimed at WNBA players.