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Former WNBA star Katie Douglas said Caitlin Clark often plays with a “target” on her back as a group of Republican lawmakers called on the league to improve player safety after a series of physical interactions between Clark and opposing players.
Speaking on “Fox News Live,” Douglas called the lawmakers’ effort “helpful” and said it is good to bring awareness to the sport and support fairness.
“I think any time you have lawmakers now using their voice and using their platform, I think it is helpful just to bring continued awareness,” Douglas said.
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Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever, has largely tried to downplay the drama, but the ongoing series of fouls and trash talk against her prompted multiple lawmakers to send a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert calling for answers on Clark’s treatment and improved player safety.
The Fever released a statement Wednesday distancing itself from the congressional letter, writing, “Our organization nor Caitlin has had any interaction with anyone in this congressional group and we were unaware of their letter.”
In the letter, lawmakers praised Clark for “transforming women’s sports” and inspiring a new generation of young women and girls. They called her the “face of your league.”
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“Millions of casual fans now tune in to watch her play. Unfortunately, what they too often witness is not simply aggressive competition, but repeated acts of unnecessary physical hostility and violence,” the lawmakers wrote, adding that there are reports some of the incidents “may be racially motivated.”
The lawmakers noted that Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye and struck in the throat, arguing that the incidents have gone “far beyond routine physical play.” There have also been claims of inconsistent officiating against Clark.
A source familiar with the league told Fox News Digital that player safety is the WNBA’s “top priority,” including Clark’s safety. According to the source, the league established an Officiating Task Force to better regulate the physicality of play, which they say has led to an increase in fouls called this season.
The source added that the league has also invested in security upgrades both on and off the court, including enhanced security, AI to identify hate online and launching its “No Space for Hate” platform.
Douglas said the league is being urged to apply officiating standards fairly across the board, regardless of the player.
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“What everybody is asking for, lawmakers, players, I think GMs, I think across the board is the league to find that consistency with officiating,” Douglas said. “So, I think it is important that people continue to use their voice, people continue to use their platform to advocate for change when you know that something’s not right.”
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Douglas acknowledged that being a sports official is a difficult job because of the real-time pressure, but she said there needs to be change because of the visible “physicality” in plays against Clark.
While Douglas wouldn’t call the physical play against Clark jealousy, she said Clark has a “target” and that “the league has to understand, if that is the case, that they do have to do a better job of being consistent.”
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