Adam Silver says WNBA star Caitlin Clark is a ‘political football’ amid Alyssa Thomas foul debate

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that WNBA star Caitlin Clark has become a “political football” amid debates about officiating and physical play in the WNBA, spurred by a recent play involving her and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that WNBA star Caitlin Clark has become a “political football” amid debates about officiating and physical play in the WNBA, spurred by a recent play involving her and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas.

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“Ultimately, the issues around Caitlin Clark are not largely about officiating,” Silver said, “and that particular incident is not about whether a foul should have been called at the time in the game or whether that was ultimately a flagrant on review.”

He made the remarks during an onstage conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the Game Plan Summit, presented by CNBC and Boardroom.