Caitlin Clark controversy reaches Capitol Hill amid racial bias claims

Caitlin Clark won’t play in Thursday’s highly anticipated rematch between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury, but the firestorm over her clash last month with Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas hasn’t cooled — now Congress is pressing the WNBA to protect Clark, who is White, from fouls lawmakers say may be racially motivated.

Rep. August Pfluger of Texas, joined by 10 other House Republicans, sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert saying Clark has been “hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat” in incidents that “go far beyond routine physical play,” citing her run-ins with Black players, including Thomas and Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese.

Fever coach Stephanie White confirmed Clark will sit out Thursday, with center Aliyah Boston also returning from injury that game.

Clark left a June 24 game with a back injury after Thomas made contact with her throat; the WNBA suspended Thomas one game for the contact.

Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana said the league’s “actions — not just its words” must guarantee fair play.

Thomas has said she received death threats and racial slurs after her suspension and accused Engelbert of staying silent.

“Now we’re being painted as thugs. There’s death threats out on us,” Thomas said.

The WNBA has said it “vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate.”

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Read more:

• GOP congressmen demand ’accountability’ from WNBA for fouls on Clark

• Caitlin Clark drops 9 points in return from back injury after 2-game absence, can’t lead Fever past Sparks

• Mercury’s Thomas says she has received online abuse following suspension for Caitlin Clark incident

• Mercury defend Thomas following suspension over Clark altercation

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