NBA commissioner Adam Silver complains of 'political ping pong' over Caitlin Clark, declines comment on suspension report

[ASFN Admin]

NBA commissioner Adam Silver will not confirm a report he stepped in over suspending Alyssa Thomas for a foul against Caitlin Clark and he doesn’t seem thrilled the matter has reached the point of receiving Congressional attention.

Speaking during CNBC’s Game Plan Summit at Fanatics Fest, Silver complained that discussion around Clark has led to “political ping-pong,” while praising her as a player and person.

Via Sports Business Journal’s Rob Schaefer:

“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. I don't think that issue is ultimately about officiating.

“It's become political ping pong with her. And she's a young woman who's trying to improve her game, focus on being the best player as she can. 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 a flagrant after the fact?”

Silver added that he does believe WNBA officiating needs to be improved but that his “day job is getting complains about NBA officiating.”

Thomas’ foul against Clark in a June 24 game between the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury has become the most-talked about play of the WNBA season. Clark has called for the WNBA to do better with its officiating. Her teammate Sophie Cunningham claimed she’s being targeted by other players. Thomas said she was getting death threats from Clark fans.

A group of 11 House Republicans have signed a letter threatening the WNBA with a Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission crackdown if Clark continues to be fouled.


Thomas initially avoided consequences for the play, in which she pushed down on Clark’s neck with her first, but was later hit with a Flagrant 2 foul that came with a one-game suspension and fine. It was reported Thursday that Silver stepped in and convinced WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to issue the suspension, after she initially planned to hold off.

Specifically asked about that report, Silver declined to comment, again via Schaefer:

“I'm not going to comment on that, because I don't think it's fair to Caitlin - and to Cathy Engelbert either. I think that's not the real issue here. What people are trying to make a larger issue around that— not as to whether that was a flagrant foul or not. Obviously, the league decided after the fact that not only should a foul have been called, but it was a flagrant foul.

“Yes, we need to improve WNBA officiating, and there's lots of work to do on NBA officiating as well, but I really think there's an opportunity to support Caitlin and say, let her be the best basketball player she can be.”

As far as basketball goes, Clark has struggled in three games since returning from a back injury. She’s averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 assists and 4 turnovers while shooting 35.1% from the field and 15.8% from 3-point range in that span.

Continue reading...