Caitlin Clark Speaks Out After Flagrant Foul Controversy and Rising Media Strain

Caitlin Clark has damaged her silence after the latest foul controversy involving Alyssa Thomas, saying the WNBA should do a greater job of defending gamers whereas additionally calling out the rising negativity surrounding the league.

Caitlin Clark Says League Must Protect Players Better

Speaking to reporters in Indianapolis on Friday, the Indiana Fever star addressed the June 24 incident by which Thomas by chance struck her within the throat whereas each gamers chased a free ball throughout a recreation towards the Phoenix Mercury.

According to the NYPost, officers didn’t name a flagrant foul throughout the recreation, however Thomas was later suspended for one recreation after a replay evaluation.

“I did think it was a flagrant foul and our refereeing just needs to be better,” Clark mentioned. “I think for us, as the league, we’ve just got to do better protecting our players.”

Clark defined that whereas referees face troublesome conditions, she believes the league wants to take a position extra into officiating and expertise. She advised paying referees like full-time staff and enhancing replay methods to assist officers make higher calls throughout video games.

The dialog across the foul rapidly unfold on-line and have become one of many greatest matters within the WNBA over the previous week. However, Clark admitted she feels annoyed that a lot consideration continues to give attention to controversy as an alternative of basketball.

“It’s really interesting to me because that’s all people are still talking about,” Clark mentioned. “I feel like that’s just a real disservice to our league.”

Caitlin Clark Condemns Online Hate Against Alyssa Thomas

The 24-year-old guard additionally strongly condemned the net abuse directed at Thomas after the incident. Thomas just lately revealed she acquired racial abuse and threats towards herself and her household following the play.

“As I’ve stood up here and said before, the harassment, the hate — none of that is okay,” Clark mentioned. “That goes for the opposing team we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches.”

Clark added that she has grow to be more and more annoyed with individuals utilizing her identify to create arguments and headlines on-line, DailyMail reported. She mentioned many tales and social media discussions not mirror actuality and solely create extra negativity across the sport.

“I think people just using my name in ways that are just inappropriate,” she defined. “You don’t know me, you don’t know who I am.”

The Fever star additionally opened up emotionally concerning the strain that comes with being some of the talked-about athletes in ladies’s basketball.

“I’m not a robot,” Clark mentioned. “I have emotions, I have feelings, and it can be really difficult to go through a lot of that.”