NBA Executive Says ‘Political’ Agenda Surrounding Caitlin Clark Is ‘Unfair’

· Yahoo Sports

MEGA

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is breaking his silence regarding the ongoing conversation surrounding WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Clark has dominated headlines in recent weeks after a hard foul by Alyssa Thomas sparked renewed debate about the physicality in the WNBA and the treatment of the league’s biggest stars. The incident quickly became one of the sport’s biggest storylines, drawing reactions from fans, analysts, current and former players, and even members of Congress.

Adam Silver Says It’s ‘Unfair’ That Caitlin Clark Is Being Used As Part Of A ‘Political’ AgendaMEGA

Speaking with CBS, Silver opened up about the recent incident between Clark and Thomas when he was asked for his thoughts on how the topic became national news. According to Silver, he’s come to know Clark over the years and described her as “an incredible player and also an incredible person” whose primary focus is on winning basketball games.

Visit rouesnews.click for more information.

Silver expressed his disappointment in how things have transpired over the last few weeks, adding that Clark has “become a bit of a political football in this country, and I think that’s incredibly unfair to her.”

He added, “I don’t think that issue is ultimately about officiating. It’s become political ping pong with her. She’s a young woman who’s trying to improve her game, focus on being the best player she can. I don’t even think it’s fair to her that this has become a separate storyline about one foul.”

Members Of Congress Write To The WNBA After Caitlin Clark Was Plastered Over The News

MEGA

Silver’s comments come days after nearly 12 members of Congress wrote to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert about what they believe are “racially motivated” attacks on Clark.

“As Commissioner, you have an obligation to ensure that every player competes in a safe and professional environment, both on and off the court, free from violence, discrimination, or retaliation,” a portion of the letter read. “If discrimination or retaliation is occurring and creating a hostile work environment, we support any appropriate investigation by the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If true, such conduct could constitute violations of federal civil rights laws.”

The letter was sparked by a play during which Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas put her fist in Clark’s neck, resulting in a Flagrant 2 and a one-game suspension.

Thomas Says She’s Received Death Threats Over The Caitlin Clark Foul

Days after Thomas’ one-game suspension, the WNBA veteran spoke with the media and said the situation had been blown out of proportion, resulting in death threats and harassing messages.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball,” Thomas said, adding that the play was accidental and she didn’t realize it happened until after the game concluded.

“Now we’re being painted as thugs. There’s death threats out on us,” she added. “It’s really unacceptable. It’s something that needs to change in this league and I’m just really sick and tired of it.”

Thomas explained that she wasn’t bothered by the suspension, but more so perturbed by the league’s alleged lack of accountability.

“The biggest thing is about our safety. We’re so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we’re having people threaten our lives. Leaking addresses out there. Putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball,” she said.

The League Responded To Thomas’ Claims

MEGA

Commissioner Engelbert responded to Thomas’ comments in a statement of her own, saying the WNBA “vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate.” She also added that the players’ safety “is always the league’s top priority.”

“We are aware of Alyssa Thomas’ comments, and what she and her teammates have experienced is completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community. The league and our security team have been in contact with the Phoenix Mercury organization and remain committed to protecting all players,” she continued.

Las Vegas Aces Star Subjected To Racist Messages

MEGA

Thomas isn’t the only WNBA player who’s received derogatory messages following a game with the Indiana Fever.

According to a previous report from The Blast, Las Vegas Aces player Chelsea Gray was subjected to racist messages from an alleged Fever fan. In the alleged message, the man, whose name hasn’t been released publicly, called Gray the N-word, prompting backlash from Aces fans and other WNBA supporters.

The alleged sender was previously employed by Hilton Grand Vacations; however, he was fired after fans brought the scandal to the company’s attention.

The Aces supported Gray publicly with a message that read, “We do not tolerate hate speech of any type, whether it’s online, in the arena, or anywhere within our community. We stand behind those who have the courage to speak up for themselves. We are united with anyone who has been targeted by this type of unacceptable behavior.”

The NBA Executive Says ‘Political’ Agenda Surrounding Caitlin Clark Is ‘Unfair’ first appeared on The Blast

Read full story at source