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.
Incident Sparks Outrage
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 June 24 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 criticised 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 online harassment and threats over the incident. Clark fuelled 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.
Clark reiterated calls for officiating to improve in the league but said she regretted how the incident with Thomas and its subsequent fallout had engulfed media coverage. The WNBA announced a programme 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.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
