Representative Jim Banks from Indiana is urging WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to take necessary actions to safeguard the well-being of Caitlin Clark, the rookie player of Indiana Fever.
Outkick was the first to report that Banks wrote a letter to Engelbert on June 4, citing Clark’s success in boosting viewership and attendance this season.
“Regrettably, Clark’s extraordinary abilities have not been well-received by some of her fellow players since she joined the WNBA,” Banks explained.
According to Tamika Catchings, Caitlin Clark bears a significant amount of responsibility. “There is a lot of weight on her shoulders,” says Catchings.
During the discussion, Banks highlighted the incident involving the Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter and Indiana Fever’s Jessica Clark. Carter was charged with an away-from-ball foul after she shoulder-checked Clark while the latter was waiting for an inbound pass. However, Banks pointed out that the foul was later upgraded to a Flagrant 1, emphasizing the severity of the incident. Clark fell to the ground following the incident.
According to Banks, in the Fever’s recent victory against the Chicago Sky, Chennedy Carter intentionally knocked Clark down even though neither player had the ball. This excessive aggression was further encouraged by Carter’s teammate, Angel Reese.
According to the congressman, Indiana has a history of tough basketball, but he believes that the recent move made during the game was a cheap shot. He further added that such actions could result in injuries and should not be tolerated.
Carter or the Sky not receiving any further punishment did not sit well with Banks.
Banks expressed that every piece of data points out that whenever Caitlin Clark is on the court, there is a surge in the number of viewers. However, what these viewers witness is a league that fails to hold aggressive players accountable and implement their own regulations of sportsmanship. This not only does a disfavor to Clark and the Indiana Fever but also to the countless young girls who aspire to play in the WNBA someday.
According to the Fever coach, the flagrant foul committed by Chennedy Carter on Caitlin Clark was a ‘non-basketball play.’
U.S. Representative Jim Banks from Indiana has recently reached out to Cathy Engelbert, the Commissioner of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), seeking answers to certain queries.
Banks sent a letter to Engelbert asking her to provide answers to the following inquiries before June 14:
- What steps is the WNBA taking to curb excessive physical targeting of specific players?
- Will individual organizations be held responsible for allowing players with histories of violence to physically target their competitors?
- Do you believe that WNBA players repeatedly diminishing the talents of their fellow players is beneficial to the leagues’ overall success?
- Do you believe that it is inspiring to young female athletes to see players like Indiana’s Caitlin Clark physically targeted for her success?
Read Indiana U.S. Rep Jim Banks’ letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert
