Adam Silver Says Caitlin Clark Has Become a 'Political Football' Amid WNBA Spotlight

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that Caitlin Clark has become "a bit of a political football." His argument focused on how the conversation surrounding the Indiana Fever star has gone far beyond basketball, putting her in an unfair position.

Silver spoke at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit when asked whether he influenced the WNBA's suspension of Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas after her June 24 foul on Clark. He did not deny the report but said he would not comment on it directly. 

"I'm not going to comment on that, because I don't think it's fair to Caitlin [Clark] — and to Cathy Engelbert either. That's not the real issue here," Silver said.

Silver thinks the focus on Clark has moved from basketball to discussions about officiating and league discipline, which stand in for larger debates.

"Let me give you a serious answer to that question. I think that ultimately the issues around Caitlin Clark are not largely about officiating," Silver said. "And that particular incident is not about whether a foul should have been called at the time of the game or whether that was ultimately a flagrant non-review.

"I've come to know Caitlin really well. She's an incredible player and also an incredible person. And she wants to focus on being the best player she can," he explained. "And she's become a bit of a political football in this country, and I think it's incredibly unfair to her. I don't think that issue is ultimately about officiating. It's become political ping-pong with her. ... And I don't even think it's fair to her that this has become a separate storyline about one foul — should it have been called in time or should it have been called after the fact? That's my response. People are allowed to think whatever they can, and whatever they want, about our league. But there's so much to celebrate around the WNBA."

Clark has contributed to a drastic rise in national attention to the WNBA since her arrival, increasing TV ratings, attendance, and league interest. Her games attract record audiences, but hard fouls, officiating debates, and now disciplinary decisions for plays involving her often become the focus.

Silver argued that the narrative has misaligned with Clark's priorities. He said Clark focuses on her game, but public debate centers on her rather than her performance.

Silver's comments came after a report by the Sports Business Journal, which stated he urged WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to suspend Thomas. The league had initially only planned a fine. Thomas punched Clark in the throat during Phoenix's victory over Indiana on June 24. The officials didn't call a foul, but the WNBA later upgraded it to Flagrant 2, fined Thomas $1,000, and suspended her for one game.

The WNBA called the report "absolutely false" and stated that its basketball and referee departments evaluate Flagrant Foul criteria before making decisions.

While opinions about Clark and the WNBA differ, Silver wants the focus to be on the league's growing popularity and visibility.