Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines said Caitlin Clark was the “queen” of the WNBA before she even stepped foot in the pros. Appearing on Fox News’ Big Weekend Show on Sunday, Gaines made blunt remarks about why Republican lawmakers are standing behind Clark unprompted.
Eleven of them signed a letter addressed to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, demanding the league ensure Clark’s safety on the court against rival players’ alleged “unnecessary physical hostility and violence.” They also suggested supporting a plausible investigation by the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
“Have they considered that the one reason that we care about Caitlin Clark and her safety isn’t that she’s white, isn’t because she’s straight, but it’s because she’s good at basketball,” Gaines said. “Because she’s a generational talent who has revolutionized not just the sport of women’s basketball but women’s sports as a whole.”
Gaines added:
“It goes without saying that she’s the golden goose of the WNBA … do they hate her because she’s white? Maybe. Do they hate her because she’s straight? Maybe again. I think it’s rooted in jealousy. I think she was the queen of the WNBA before she ever stepped foot on a WNBA court and they hate for it.”
Clark was arguably the biggest draw in women’s college basketball. It was her introduction to the WNBA that spiked the ratings through the roof. In three seasons, Clark’s Fever managed to draw the highest ratings across channels.
There’s no concrete evidence that players “hate” her as Gaines and the Republican lawmakers suggest. However, they believe that’s the case due to the kind of flagrant fouls Clark has had to endure since her debut.
Most recently, on June 24, Alyssa Thomas appeared to put her fist on Clark’s neck and seemingly knee her in the groin while the Fever star was on the floor. Thomas escaped punishment during the game, but the league later reviewed the incident and issued the Phoenix Mercury star a Flagrant 2 penalty and suspended her for one game.
Former Fever star thinks it’s “helpful” that Republican lawmakers are stepping in for Caitlin Clark’s protection
Former Fever star Katie Douglas feels the Republican lawmakers made the right call by stepping in to protect Caitlin Clark from flagrant fouls. On Saturday, Douglas appeared on Fox News to give her thoughts on the letter and the officiating controversy surrounding Clark.
“Yeah, I think it is helpful,” she said. “I think any time you have lawmakers now using their voice, using their platform, I think it’s helpful, just to bring continued awareness (to) what everybody’s asking for – lawmakers, players, GMs, I think across the board – is the league to find that consistency with the officiating.”
Clark and the Fever aren’t the only ones facing issues with officiating inconsistency. Several coaches and teams have asked for the same. With the Fever, conversations heighten as Clark brings more eyeballs to the league and to her team.
The Republican lawmakers’ recent involvement is a prime example of the impact her popularity can have in certain situations.
Read more:
- “Authorities Need to Step In”: Indiana Congressman Warns WNBA After Concerns About Caitlin Clark’s Treatment
- Skip Bayless “Doubts” Caitlin Clark Voted For President Trump, Cites Interaction With Taylor Swift’s Kamala Harris Post
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