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“Ultimately, the issues around Caitlin Clark are not largely
about officiating," Silver said, “and that particular incident
is not about whether a foul should have been called at the time
in the game or whether that was ultimately a flagrant on
review.”
He made the remarks during an onstage conversation with Andrew
Ross Sorkin at the Game Plan Summit, presented by CNBC and
Boardroom.
“I have come to know Caitlin really well,” Silver added. “She’s
an incredible player and also an incredible person. And she
wants to focus on being the best player she can. She has become
a bit of a political football in this country, and I think it’s
incredibly unfair to her. I don’t think that issue is ultimately
about officiating. It’s become political ping-pong with her. And
she’s a young woman who’s trying to improve her game.”
The play Silver referred to happened during a June 24 game
between the Fever and Mercury when Thomas made contact with her
fist to Clark’s throat in the second quarter. Thomas was not
called for a foul on the play during the game, but the league
subsequently upgraded the play to a flagrant foul and suspended
her one game for “recklessly making contact with her fist.”
Thomas later said the play was an accident. She has said she
received death threats and has been called racial slurs after
the incident, also criticizing WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert
for not doing more to protect the league’s players.
Clark and Fever coach Stephanie White have condemned threats
levied at Thomas.
Since she entered the league, Clark has helped significantly
increase WNBA ticket sales and television ratings. However, many
conversations around her have centered on polarizing topics,
including race, officiating and politics.
“I don’t even think it’s fair to her that this has become a
separate storyline about one foul,” Silver said, adding: “Do we
need to improve WNBA officiating? No doubt about it."
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