‘They don’t care about women’s sports:’ Riley Gaines, Republicans spark outrage for condemning ‘violence’ against Caitlin Clark

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Credit: The Indianapolis Star, The Courier-Journal

The treatment of Indiana Fever All-Star Caitlin Clark this summer has been a hot-button topic in the WNBA discourse. Not only was Clark inexplicably voted the 11th-best guard in the league this season by her fellow players, something WNBA legend Candace Parker called out, but she was also struck in the throat area by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, which resulted in a one-game suspension for Thomas.

On Tuesday, members of Congress from the Republican Study Committee published a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert on protecting Clark and other players moving forward.

“Dear Commissioner Engelbert,

“Caitlin Clark is transforming women’s sports. She has inspired a new generation of young girls to participate in athletics and has become one of the most influential figures in the history of women’s basketball.

“She is also the face of your league. Clark has significantly increased fan interest, driven record television ratings, and attracted new corporate sponsors for the WNBA. 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.

“Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games. These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable. Recently, a player even appeared to endorse violence against Clark in a social media post, further fueling concerns about the culture surrounding these incidents. In addition, concerning reports suggest that many of these attacks against Caitlin Clark may be racially motivated.

“As Commissioner, you have an obligation to ensure that every player competes in a safe and professional environment, both on and off the court, free from violence, discrimination, or retaliation. If discrimination or retaliation is occurring and creating a hostile work environment, we support any appropriate investigation by the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If true, such conduct could constitute violations of federal civil rights laws.”

The letter, which was signed by several members of Congress including Mark Alford, Zach Nunn, and Tim Burchett, went on to demand a plan from Engelbert to prevent further actions against Clark and other players, and a response by July 24.

Conservative commentator Riley Gaines posted the letter in full on X, along with her support of it.

Finally, some adults in the room. Thank you to these Republican Members of Congress for holding the @WNBA accountable on the disgusting treatment of Caitlin Clark. She’s been the subject of targeted violence.

Protect your athletes or stop pretending to care about women’s sports. pic.twitter.com/inHBdECp2y

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) July 8, 2026

However, many people on social media felt that Gaines and the Republican Study Committee were acting in bad faith.

“They don’t care about women’s sports and they are definitely pretending because Clark is a subject they can rally the base around! You know…sort of like a 5th place swimmer that tied with a trans woman,” one person posted on X.

“Caitlin didn’t ask for any of this, you don’t actually care about this league. She’s just another grift for you because that’s how you keep your lights on. All this extra nonsense you’re pushing just adds to the narrative attached to her,” someone else added.

“None of these congress members watch nor care about the WNBA. What is this performative nonsense?” another person wrote.

Hopefully, Engelbert does everything in her power to protect all players in the WNBA, and is able to deduce who actually cares about the health and intergrity of the league.

The post ‘They don’t care about women’s sports:’ Riley Gaines, Republicans spark outrage for condemning ‘violence’ against Caitlin Clark appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

Continue reading...