NBA commissioner calls Clark politicized after Thomas foul

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated on Thursday that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been unfairly turned into a "political football" amid ongoing debates about her treatment in the WNBA. Silver made the remarks during an onstage conversation at the Game Plan Summit in New York, addressing the controversy that has followed a physical incident involving Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas.

The commissioner argued that the core issue extends beyond officiating. He stated that the particular incident, which occurred during a game on June 24 when Thomas made contact with Clark's throat during a loose-ball scramble, is not primarily about whether a foul should have been called in real time or upgraded afterward. Silver praised Clark as an incredible player and person who simply wants to focus on her game, expressing sympathy that the narrative has become what he called "political ping-pong."

Silver's comments come amid a report alleging he advised WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to suspend Thomas after the play. The report claimed Engelbert was not initially planning to suspend Thomas until Silver, whose organization controls the WNBA, intervened. When asked directly about...