Concerns Over Treatment of Kaitlin Clark in WNBA

Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham expressed her thoughts on the treatment of Kaitlin Clark by opposing players and referees. The reaction comes in the wake of an incident where Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas struck Clark in the throat without any foul called, causing a stir in the sports community.

Cunningham also reflected on her recent interaction with Mercury’s DeWanna Bonner, mentioning that her finger-pointing gesture had angered Bonner, leading to some tension on the court.

Cunningham stated that it seemed like players were targeting Clark. “I mean, I was literally on my knees playing the game. [Clark] hurt her throat… They’re definitely after her and the league is doing nothing to protect her,” she said during a podcast.

Interestingly, Cunningham noted that neither she nor her teammates noticed what happened to Clark at the time. “Honestly, I didn’t see that coming,” she remarked. “If we had, we definitely would have responded.”

She expressed frustration, saying, “It seems like this kind of thing happens to her in every game, and the referees just ignore it.”

During the game, Cunningham had also been vocal with referees and Bonner, which, surprisingly, turned into a viral moment. Reflecting on receiving a technical foul, she joked, saying it was the “weakest thing I’ve ever seen,” adding that all she was doing was pointing.

Cunningham criticized the WNBA for not promoting Clark adequately, especially during promotional events where Clark was omitted from graphics while other players, including Cunningham, were included. “It’s ridiculous. The league isn’t marketing its stars properly. We should be highlighting players like Kaitlin, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aaliyah Boston instead of random selections,” she said.

In her view, the league’s marketing decisions aren’t making sense. “What’s happening? If the goal is to attract viewers, you’d think they’d showcase players who can really draw people in,” she remarked, shaking her head.