Clark Condemns WNBA Harassment, Out Sunday vs Aces
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- Caitlin Clark broke her silence Friday condemning the harassment and hate directed at her, the Indiana Fever, and opposing WNBA players, stating 'None of that is OK' and that 'there should never be question of character'
- Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said she received death threats and racial slurs after being suspended one game for contacting Clark's throat with her fist in the Mercury's 111-109 win over Indiana on June 22
- Fever coach Stephanie White opened Wednesday's practice with a two-minute statement saying the league has seen 'so much more toxicity, racism, homophobia -- straight up hateful nonsense,' calling it 'absolutely unacceptable'
- Clark criticized the media's sustained coverage of the June 22 incident, saying when she turned on the TV days later 'that's all people were talking about' and calling it 'a disservice to the rest of our league'
- The WNBA has deployed AI software to identify and respond to online threats across social media and expanded confidential mental health resources, while the WNBPA sent members a letter obtained by the AP demanding threats and death threats be 'unequivocally, publicly and immediately condemned'
- Clark announced she will be on the sidelines Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces as she continues rehabbing a back injury from the Mercury game, but said she participated in Friday's practice and is optimistic about returning soon
Why it matters: The WNBA's biggest star publicly calling out toxicity -- while sitting out a marquee Aces matchup -- puts pressure on the league, its broadcast partners, and social media platforms to prove that the AI monitoring tools and expanded mental health resources announced this week actually curb the threats players like Alyssa Thomas say they are already receiving.
