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Adam Silver declined Thursday to say if he urged WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to suspend Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for her foul on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, avoiding the substance of a report that said he intervened while saying the broader focus should be on the public discourse surrounding Clark.
Silver was asked about the report at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit, a day after Sports Business Journal reported he got involved after the WNBA initially considered not suspending Thomas for the June 24 incident.
Thomas struck Clark in the throat during Phoenix's 111-109 win over Indiana. Officials initially didn’t call a foul. The WNBA reviewed it the next day, upgraded it to a Flagrant 2, fined Thomas $1,000, and suspended her for one game for intentionally targeting Clark's throat.
Sports Business Journal reported Engelbert initially thought a suspension was too harsh for a play officials didn't penalize. Silver's involvement changed the outcome. The NBA owns 42% of the WNBA, providing Silver oversight while the league manages its daily basketball operations independently.
Silver did not answer if he influenced the decision.
"I'm not going to comment on that, because I don't think it's fair to Caitlin [Clark] — and to Cathy Engelbert either. That's not the real issue here," Silver said.
Silver said the Clark discussion has gone beyond any officiating decision.
"Let me give you a serious answer to that question," Silver said. "I think that ultimately the issues around Caitlin Clark are not largely about officiating. And that particular incident is not about whether a foul should have been called at the time of the game or whether that was ultimately a flagrant non-review.
"I've come to know Caitlin really well. She's an incredible player and also an incredible person. And she wants to focus on being the best player she can. And she's become a bit of a political football in this country, and I think it's incredibly unfair to her," Silver explained. "I don't think that issue is ultimately about officiating. It's become political ping-pong with her. ... And I don't even think it's fair to her that this has become a separate storyline about one foul — should it have been called in time or should it have been called after the fact? That's my response. People are allowed to think whatever they can, and whatever they want, about our league. But there's so much to celebrate around the WNBA."
The WNBA disputed the Sports Business Journal report.
"The story is absolutely false," a league spokesperson told USA Today. "As per our standard process, our basketball operations and referee operations departments evaluate all Flagrant Foul criteria, and then the relevant parties make decisions."
Engelbert has not commented publicly.
Thomas said she and her family received racist messages and death threats after serving the suspension.
"It's unfortunate that it's come to this over basketball," Thomas said. "A lot of us — myself included — didn't even know the play took place until after the game. Now we're being painted as thugs. There's death threats out on us. It's really unacceptable. It's something that needs to change in this league, and I'm just really sick and tired of it."
Thomas said her concern extends beyond the suspension itself.
"We're so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we're having people threaten our lives. Leaking addresses out there. Putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball," Thomas said. "At some point, the league needs to take a stand. Time and time again, players are going through this and the league remains silent. I'm sick and tired of it. It's time for them to step up and have our backs."
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray received a racist Instagram message after Sunday's game against Indiana. Hilton Grand Vacations said the responsible employee was identified and fired for violating policies.
The controversy renewed attention on Engelbert, who reportedly canceled a scheduled appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, where she was expected to address the Thomas suspension, the Sports Business Journal report, and the league's response to harassment of players.
Silver said the NBA and WNBA will keep discussing Engelbert's future and praised her leadership during a key growth period.
Continue reading...
Silver was asked about the report at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit, a day after Sports Business Journal reported he got involved after the WNBA initially considered not suspending Thomas for the June 24 incident.
Thomas struck Clark in the throat during Phoenix's 111-109 win over Indiana. Officials initially didn’t call a foul. The WNBA reviewed it the next day, upgraded it to a Flagrant 2, fined Thomas $1,000, and suspended her for one game for intentionally targeting Clark's throat.
Sports Business Journal reported Engelbert initially thought a suspension was too harsh for a play officials didn't penalize. Silver's involvement changed the outcome. The NBA owns 42% of the WNBA, providing Silver oversight while the league manages its daily basketball operations independently.
Silver did not answer if he influenced the decision.
"I'm not going to comment on that, because I don't think it's fair to Caitlin [Clark] — and to Cathy Engelbert either. That's not the real issue here," Silver said.
Silver said the Clark discussion has gone beyond any officiating decision.
"Let me give you a serious answer to that question," Silver said. "I think that ultimately the issues around Caitlin Clark are not largely about officiating. And that particular incident is not about whether a foul should have been called at the time of the game or whether that was ultimately a flagrant non-review.
"I've come to know Caitlin really well. She's an incredible player and also an incredible person. And she wants to focus on being the best player she can. And she's become a bit of a political football in this country, and I think it's incredibly unfair to her," Silver explained. "I don't think that issue is ultimately about officiating. It's become political ping-pong with her. ... And I don't even think it's fair to her that this has become a separate storyline about one foul — should it have been called in time or should it have been called after the fact? That's my response. People are allowed to think whatever they can, and whatever they want, about our league. But there's so much to celebrate around the WNBA."
The WNBA disputed the Sports Business Journal report.
"The story is absolutely false," a league spokesperson told USA Today. "As per our standard process, our basketball operations and referee operations departments evaluate all Flagrant Foul criteria, and then the relevant parties make decisions."
Engelbert has not commented publicly.
Thomas said she and her family received racist messages and death threats after serving the suspension.
"It's unfortunate that it's come to this over basketball," Thomas said. "A lot of us — myself included — didn't even know the play took place until after the game. Now we're being painted as thugs. There's death threats out on us. It's really unacceptable. It's something that needs to change in this league, and I'm just really sick and tired of it."
Thomas said her concern extends beyond the suspension itself.
"We're so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we're having people threaten our lives. Leaking addresses out there. Putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball," Thomas said. "At some point, the league needs to take a stand. Time and time again, players are going through this and the league remains silent. I'm sick and tired of it. It's time for them to step up and have our backs."
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray received a racist Instagram message after Sunday's game against Indiana. Hilton Grand Vacations said the responsible employee was identified and fired for violating policies.
The controversy renewed attention on Engelbert, who reportedly canceled a scheduled appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, where she was expected to address the Thomas suspension, the Sports Business Journal report, and the league's response to harassment of players.
Silver said the NBA and WNBA will keep discussing Engelbert's future and praised her leadership during a key growth period.
Continue reading...
