Adam Silver calls Caitlin Clark a 'political football' as the WNBA continues to avoid the truth

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is taking a dramatic approach to the safety of the WNBA's biggest star.

Rather than directly address Clark's repeated treatment, Silver seemed more interested in de-escalating the controversy.

On Thursday, as Silver spoke about Clark's handling of the CNBC Sports Conference in New York, the commissioner had an opportunity to demand accountability but instead said Clark's argument was more politically motivated than what happened on the court.

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“I know Caitlin very well. She's an unbelievable player and an unbelievable person. And she wants to focus on being the best player she can be. She's become a political football player in this country, and I think it's incredibly unfair for her. … It's become a political ping-pong with her.”

For many Clark fans, silver is missing the point.

Silver has deflected attention from the repeated hard hitting and confrontations that have fueled criticism of the league. Instead, Silver suggested that the main problem is the controversy surrounding Clark, not the repeated physical play that caused it.

“In the end, the issues surrounding Caitlin Clark are not too much to handle, and that incident doesn't mean if it was called wrong at the time…”

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Caitlin Clark No. 22 of the Indiana Fever sits on the court after being fouled during the second half of a WNBA game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 30, 2024.

Clark's supporters have watched the Fever star flounder after struggling this season, making Silver's explanation a tough sell.

But Silver's reported involvement raises more questions. According to multiple reports, she spoke with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert before Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was suspended following a controversial throat strike.

Asked if there was anything about the report, Silver would neither confirm nor deny it.

“I will not comment on it [the Engelbert report]because I don't think it's fair to Caitlin, and Cathy Engelbert.”

While Silver acknowledged one area that needs improvement, saying, “Do we need to improve the performance of the WNBA? There's no doubt about it,” he quickly left aside major questions regarding Clark's treatment.

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At a time when the WNBA needed action, Silver chose visuals.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during a press conference at the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Kirby Lee/Images)

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