Caitlin Clark Called a ‘Political Football’ by Adam Silver

Silver’s Comments On Clark’s Focus

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says he knows Caitlin Clark “really well.” He describes her as an incredible player and person who wants to concentrate solely on becoming the best teammate possible. Yet Silver acknowledges that this focus has been difficult amid the swirling attention surrounding her. He labeled the situation “incredibly unfair to her” during a CNBC Game Plan Summit interview.

Silver’s remarks came after CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin asked about reports that the commissioner urged WNBA head Cathy Engelbert to suspend the Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas for an incident with Clark on June 24. The commissioner said the controversy has turned into political ping‑pong, noting it’s not primarily about officiating. “It’s sort of become political ping‑pong with her,” Silver observed.

When pressed about his involvement, Silver declined to comment directly, saying it was not fair to Clark or Engelbert. He emphasized that the real issue is supporting Clark so she can focus on basketball. “We need to improve WNBA officiating, and there’s lots to work on NBA officiating as well,” Silver added, but stressed the need to let her “be the best basketball player she can be.”

The June 24 Incident and Its Fallout

The confrontation happened June 24 in a Fever‑Mercury matchup when Thomas grabbed a loose ball and later hovered over Clark with a fist on her shoulder that slid down to the throat area. No foul was called at the time, but the WNBA later penalized Thomas for recklessly making contact with her fist to Clark’s throat. Thomas served a one‑game suspension as a result.

Following the suspension, Thomas disclosed that she and her family received death threats, racial slurs, and had personal addresses leaked online. She called for league changes to protect players off the court. Silver warned that the episode has become a separate storyline that distracts from the WNBA’s broader progress and celebrations.

Silver also highlighted Clark’s impact on the league, noting she attracted a new audience while still in college and helped raise the league’s valuation. He pointed to the New York Liberty’s recent Asian‑American ownership and the overall growth of women’s basketball as reasons to keep the focus on sport rather than controversy.

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