In the time since Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was shoved to the ground by Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter in last Saturday’s 71-70 Fever win, it seems like everyone has chimed in on the incident.
From Pat McAfee to Matt Barnes to Jamal Crawford, the shove and subsequent fallout have been responsible for much of the week’s discourse.
That’s unlikely to stop anytime soon, as even an Indiana congressman has now gotten involved.
Indianapolis’ FOX 59 reported Tuesday that Jim Banks, Republican congressman of the state’s third district, has sent a letter to the WNBA regarding “excessive physical targeting of specific players.” Banks then specifically referenced Kennedy’s foul on Carter.
“Indiana is a basketball state. We don’t wince at aggressive defense, but this was not an example of playing ‘tough’; it was a cheap shot that could have resulted in an injury and should not be tolerated,” Banks wrote in the letter.
The congressman is asking the WNBA to take a look at the following things, per the report.
-
What steps is the WNBA taking to curb excessive physical targeting of specific players?
-
Will individual organizations be held responsible for allowing players with histories ofviolence to physically target their competitors?
-
Do you believe that WNBA players repeatedly diminishing the talents of their fellowplayers is beneficial to the leagues’ overall success?
-
Do you believe that it is inspiring to young female athletes to see players like theIndiana’s Caitlin Clark physically targeted for her success?
While Clark has been subject to some hard fouls so far early in her playing career, there are almost certainly more important issues, both within the state and nationwide, that a sitting congressman should be focused on.
[FOX 59]
About Robert O'Neill