Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 16
Eight Olympians Rebuke WNBA Over Caitlin Clark Safety as 3 Countries Join Officiating Criticism
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 16

Eight Olympians Rebuke WNBA Over Caitlin Clark Safety as 3 Countries Join Officiating Criticism

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 16

Summary

  • Eight Olympians from three countries told Fox News Digital the WNBA has failed to protect Caitlin Clark, escalating criticism of the league’s handling of its biggest star.
  • The backlash follows weeks of controversy, including a player’s fist to Clark’s throat and Clark’s own visible anger at referees during Wednesday night’s game.
  • Nancy Hogshead, Donna de Varona and Carrie Englert Zimmerman said dangerous conduct cannot be treated as part of the game and urged the league to enforce rules consistently.
  • Other Olympians, including Anthony Watson and Katie Uhlaender, tied the issue to broader concerns about officiating, player targeting and the league’s focus drifting from competition to off-court drama.
  • The comments widen a dispute that began around Clark’s treatment into a broader challenge to whether the WNBA can protect players and capitalize on the audience growth she has driven.

Insights

Is Caitlin Clark being unfairly targeted, or does her fame just expose the WNBA's long-standing officiating problems?
Can the WNBA protect its stars without alienating veterans who defend the league's historically physical style of play?