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.
Read more Toyota Announces Nearly $4 Billion Expansion, 2,000 New Jobs at Texas Plant
“I led my colleagues in demanding accountability from WNBA Commissioner [Cathy] Engelbert after MULTIPLE attacks against Caitlin Clark, a player who is transforming women’s sports and inspiring a new generation of young girls to participate in athletics,” said Committee Chairman August Pfluger (R-Texas) in a statement, Wednesday.
“I’m putting the league on notice that if it keeps letting the violent targeting slide, they could find themselves facing a DOJ and EEOC crackdown for violating federal civil rights law,” he added.
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.
“Recently, a player even appeared to endorse violence against Clark in a social media post, fueling further concerns about the culture surrounding these incidents,” the letter stated.
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).
Read more DOJ Warns States of Potential Criminal Penalties Over Noncitizen Voting Enforcement
The members issued the following statements on the matter:
“If it were not for Caitlin Clark the WNBA would still be irrelevant and possibly even defunct. Caitlin, and every player, deserves to know that when they walk on the court they are protected from unnecessary physical hostility and violence. Commissioner Engelbert is responsible for the safety of the women in her league, she should act swiftly to keep them all protected from the thug-like violence Caitlin Clark has fallen victim to,” said Rep. Marlin Stutzman.
“Discrimination of any kind has no place in women’s sports. The WNBA’s failure to act on these concerning incidents shows an indifference, or active disregard, for civil rights protections. I look forward to receiving answers from Commissioner Engelbert,” said Rep. Tim Burchett.
“Caitlin Clark has made Hoosiers proud and inspired countless young girls across the nation to believe they belong on the court. The WNBA has a responsibility to ensure every player competes in a fair and safe environment, and its actions—not just its words—must reflect that,” said Rep. Victoria Spartz.
“Caitlin Clark has done more to grow women’s basketball than perhaps any athlete in the sport’s history, inspiring young girls across East Tennessee and the country to pick up a basketball and dream big. But instead of protecting its biggest star, the WNBA has let repeated physical attacks against her go unanswered. Women athletes deserve fair and safe competition. Commissioner Engelbert has an obligation to get serious about accountability and it’s time she finally does,” said Rep. Diana Harshbarger.
“The very foundation of protecting women’s sports means protecting the women who compete in them and preserving the integrity of fair competition. The WNBA’s responsibility to ensure that physical play never crosses the line into reckless or unsafe behavior doesn’t end at Caitlin Clark. It’s not partisan and it’s not controversial. The Commissioner must demonstrate that player safety is a top priority and that the rules will be enforced fairly and consistently for all WNBA athletes,” said Rep. Sheri Biggs.
“Caitlin Clark is one of West Des Moines’ own, and she’s a hero to millions of young girls — including my daughters. She carried women’s basketball to new heights, and she’s earned the right to compete without being unfairly punched, shoved, and targeted while the league that makes a billion dollars off her name looks the other way. Iowa has your back, keep the faith Caitlin!” said Rep. Zach Nunn.
“As a member of the Republican Study Committee, I was proud to sign onto this letter to the WNBA Commissioner. Caitlin Clark has transformed women’s basketball and inspired a new generation, while getting hammered for it with no accountability. That’s not competition, that’s failure. Protect your players, enforce your rules, or don’t be surprised when it raises serious federal civil rights questions,” said RSC Messaging Task Force Chair Mark Alford.
“Finally, some adults in the room,” commented former collegiate swimmer, Riley Gaines, on X. “Thank you to these Republican Members of Congress for holding the WNBA
accountable on the disgusting treatment of Caitlin Clark. She’s been the subject of targeted violence,” the conservative activist added. “Protect your athletes or stop pretending to care about women’s sports.”
Read more Trump Administration Reinstates Iran Oil Sanctions After Strait of Hormuz Attacks
