On Tuesday, several members of the United States Congress penned a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert regarding what the members deemed to be “repeated acts of unnecessary physical hostility and violence” toward Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.
“Dear Commissioner Engelbert,” the letter, which was from the Republican Study Committee, opened.
“Caitlin Clark is transforming women’s sports. She has inspired a new generation of young girls to participate in athletics and has become one of the most influential figures in the history of women’s basketball.
“She is also the face of your league. Clark has significantly increased fan interest, driven record television ratings, and attracted new corporate sponsors for the WNBA. Millions of casual fans now tune in to watch her play. Unfortunately, what they too often witness is not simply aggressive competition, but repeated acts of unnecessary physical hostility and violence.
“Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games. These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable. Recently, a player even appeared to endorse violence against Clark in a social media post, further fueling concerns about the culture surrounding these incidents. In addition, concerning reports suggest that many of these attacks against Caitlin Clark may be racially motivated.
“As Commissioner, you have an obligation to ensure that every player competes in a safe and professional environment, both on and off the court, free from violence, discrimination, or retaliation. If discrimination or retaliation is occurring and creating a hostile work environment, we support any appropriate investigation by the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If true, such conduct could constitute violations of federal civil rights laws.”
The letter finished with three questions for Engelbert, which it demanded the commissioner respond to by July 24.
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What is your review mechanism for physical hostility and violence on the court?
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How will you hold players accountable for overly aggressive actions on the court, including towards Caitlin Clark?
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What steps are you taking to protect WNBA players from online harassment and off the court threats?
On Wednesday, the Fever organization responded, and teh Congress members who penned the letter aren’t likely to be overly thrilled with the franchise’s response.
“Our organization nor Caitlin have had any interaction with anyone in this congressional group and we were unaware of their letter,” the Fever’s statement read, per Fever reporter Chloe Peterson.
Fever statement on the letter members of Congress sent Cathy Engelbert about physicality in the league: pic.twitter.com/wnaa4gfGD3
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) July 8, 2026
“We have been clear in our public comments and in our ongoing dialogue with the League about the priority of player safety. Our players and our fans know where we stand on those issues and we will continue to stick up for our team and a standard of excellence across the league.”
As of the time of writing, Clark has yet to publicly address the letter.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.