GOP Lawmakers Put WNBA on Notice: Protect Caitlin Clark From From Further Attacks or Face DOJ, EEOC Crackdown
Debra Heine, AmGreatness, July 8, 2026
The House Republican Study Committee has put the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) on notice, warning the league in a letter that if it continues to tolerate “unnecessary physical hostility and violence” against Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark on the court, the Department of Justice may be forced to step in.
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The Committee’s letter highlighted specific incidents where Clark was hip-checked, poked in the eye, and punched in the throat, arguing that “the incidents go far beyond routine physical play” and that officials have failed to hold the offending players sufficiently accountable.
After the egregious June 24 throat punch incident, officials initially turned a blind eye, only penalizing Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury a day later— after a public outcry. Following the post-game review, the league classified the throat punch as a non-basketball act and a “cheap shot,” upgrading the initial no-call to a Flagrant 2 foul. Thomas received a one-day suspension and a $1,000 fine.
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The Committee posed three key questions for response by July 24, 2026:
• What is the league’s review mechanism for physical hostility and violence?
• How will the WNBA hold players accountable for overly aggressive actions?
• What steps are being taken to protect players from online harassment and off-court threats?
The lawmakers warned that the aggressive conduct could constitute discrimination or retaliation, creating a hostile work environment for Clark. In that case, the abuse could warrant an investigation by the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under federal civil rights laws, they said.
The letter was cosigned by Reps. Erin Houchin (IN-09), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03), Victoria Spartz (IN-05), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Tim Burchett (TN-02), Zach Nunn (IA-03), Mark Alford (MO-04), Pete Sessions (TX-17), and John Rose (TN-06).
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