Caitlin Clark questioned over nine-day silence on WNBA punch scandal after finally speaking out: ‘A lot of prep time’
Caitlin Clark has been called out for taking nine days to complain about something she ‘can’t control’ after finally breaking her silence on the Alyssa Thomas punch scandal.
The WNBA became embroiled in fierce controversy yet again last week after Clark – arguably the face of the league – was punched in the throat by Phoenix Mercury rival Thomas while on the ground.
It’s not the first time the Indiana Fever superstar has been subjected to brutality on the court, with the shocking incident reigniting the debate surrounding the rough treatment she receives from opposition players.
Nine days later, Clark broke her silence on her altercation with Thomas by taking aim at the media and WNBA officials.
‘It’s really interesting to me because, I turned the TV on on Sunday, and that game was on Wednesday, and that’s all people are still talking about,’ she said on Friday. ‘And I feel like that’s just a real disservice to our league.’
The 24-year-old also added about the incident with Thomas, who was not penalized in the game: ‘The league’s just got to do better protecting our players in that regard.’
Caitlin Clark has been questioned over her response to the WNBA throat punch controversy
Alyssa Thomas ignited outrage after she was seen punching Clark in the neck during a game
Following her comments, Clark has received criticism from conservative podcast host Jason Whitlock, who believes the WNBA icon is concerning herself with matters that are out of her control.
‘I’m rooting for Caitlin. Her story is fun to watch. However, she took 9 days to comment on a situation involving her. Nine days is a lot of prep time,’ Whitlock posted to X on Friday.
‘Her message was the refs missed a call and the media discussed her in a way she didn’t like. Control what you can control. She can’t control the refs or the media.’
In the aftermath of her punch on Clark, Thomas said she was racially abused online and received threats toward herself and her family – including her children.
The Fever hero also come out in support of her rival despite being struck in the neck last week, saying: ‘As I’ve stood up here and said before, like the harassment, the hate, none of that is okay. That goes for the opposing team we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches, there should never be a question of character.
‘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 okay and I don’t want anybody to ever experience that.’
After Thomas was not penalized for the punch, Indiana coach Stephanie White called the no-call ‘absolutely egregious’ and ‘utterly disrespectful.’
However, the WNBA retroactively assessed a flagrant II foul on Thomas the following day, suspending her for Saturday’s game against the Toronto Tempo.
Clark instead took aim at the media and WNBA officiating after addressing the incident
Former WNBA player and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike felt the league caved to online pressure to punish Thomas for what she believes was a routine play.
‘To me, overall, officiating has been a universal issue this year. And that’s not the goal of any league, but this is the reality,’ Ogwumike said on an episode of WNBA Countdown.
The former WNBA Rookie of the Year added: ‘You’re seeing that there’s an imperative to call more fouls, but there’s still a lack of situational awareness or a lack of control of the game by the refs… You can see one game where one is super physical and one where people are dropping 50. There’s been a lack of consistency and this creates a problem in magnifier matchups.
‘And this is a magnifier matchup when you look back at it. Alyssa Thomas, Caitlin Clark, both dominant players, but Alyssa plays on the edge. I know her. And Caitlin sometimes embellishes at times in certain instances.
‘So when you have a scrum, like you said, there needs to be a hypervigilance. But also this created a position where the league is now forced to be reactive. And instead of having control of not just calling fouls, now the league is reacting and doing something that it rarely does on a non-call and instituting a suspension. And to me, that was unique.’
