Congressman questions WNBA over Caitlin Clark ‘attack’

An Indiana Congressman is calling out the WNBA for opponents’ treatment of Caitlin Clark in a letter he sent to commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Congressman Jim Banks (R, IN-3) sent the letter Tuesday and highlighted Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter’s hip check of Clark in Saturday’s game. He called it an “excessive attack” and said Carter’s teammate Angel Reese cheered on and supported the moment.

“Indiana is a basketball state. We don’t wince at aggressive defense, but this was not an example of playing ‘tough,’” Banks wrote. “It was a cheap shot that could have resulted in an injury and should not be tolerated.”

Banks suggested the WNBA should discipline Carter and the Sky beyond its decision to upgrade Carter’s foul to a Flagrant 1 and fine the Sky and Reese for failing to make herself available to the media after the game.

Banks said the WNBA “refuses to hold hostile players accountable and enforce their own rules of sportsmanship.”

“It is not only a disservice to Clark and the Indiana Fever, it’s a disservice to the millions of young girls who are watching with dreams of playing in the WNBA one day,” he added.

He ended the letter by asking Englebert to respond to four questions, including if the league will take steps “to curb excessive physical targeting of specific players.”

After Saturday’s game, Clark said she “wasn’t expecting” the hard foul from Carter, calling it “not a basketball play” during an ESPN in-game interview.

On Monday, Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon called Carter’s actions “not appropriate.” When asked if there would be more discipline, Weatherspoon said that she and Carter addressed it “internally.”

The same day, the WNBA said Carter would not receive a suspension or fine for the hit.

The league has a points system for tracking when players accumulate enough fouls to warrant a suspension. The WNBA has the option to fine or suspend any player who commits a flagrant foul at any time during the regular season, preseason or playoffs, regardless of whether the point levels are reached.

Reese’s media rules violation cost her $1,000, and the Sky received a $5,000 fine for failing to ensure players comply with WNBA media policies.

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(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)