DES MOINES — Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn says the WNBA has allowed enough punches, shoves and dangerous hits against Caitlin Clark, and he is demanding that league officials explain how they plan to protect the Iowa basketball legend.
Nunn joined a group of Republican lawmakers in sending a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after another wave of controversy surrounding the physical treatment of Clark, the former Dowling Catholic and University of Iowa superstar who has become the biggest attraction in women’s basketball.
“Enough is enough,” Nunn said.
The West Des Moines Republican accused the league of failing to adequately protect Clark while profiting enormously from the attention, ticket sales, merchandise and television audiences she has brought to professional women’s basketball.
“Caitlin Clark is one of West Des Moines’ own, and she’s a hero to millions of young girls — including my daughters,” Nunn said. “She carried women’s basketball to new heights, and she’s earned the right to compete without being unfairly punched, shoved, and targeted while the league that makes a billion dollars off her name looks the other way.”
The lawmakers pointed to multiple incidents in which Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye, knocked down and struck in the throat. They are asking the WNBA to explain its procedures for reviewing excessive physical play, disciplining players responsible for dangerous conduct and preventing repeated targeting.
The latest uproar followed a June 24 game in which Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas struck Clark in the throat with her fist. Referees failed to call a foul during the game.
Only after reviewing the incident did the WNBA determine that Thomas had committed a non-basketball act. The league upgraded the play to a Flagrant 2 foul and suspended her for one game.
Critics said that delayed punishment demonstrated the central problem: the league acted only after Clark had already absorbed the blow and the missed call had ignited public outrage.
Fever coach Stephanie White also criticized the officiating and said the WNBA was failing to protect a generational player.
Clark reportedly has drawn an average of 6.7 fouls per game this season, placing her among the most frequently fouled players in the league. Nunn and the other lawmakers contend that some of the contact has crossed the line from aggressive basketball into unnecessary physical hostility.
The letter also raises concerns that the repeated attacks could involve discrimination or retaliation and warns that a hostile workplace could draw scrutiny under federal civil rights and workplace safety laws. The lawmakers asked Engelbert to respond by July 24.
The fight over Clark has also become part of a much larger cultural battle surrounding the WNBA.
The league has long made diversity, equity and LGBTQ+ inclusion a prominent part of its public identity. The WNBA became the first major professional sports league to establish a dedicated Pride campaign and regularly promotes Pride events, merchandise and programs supporting LGBTQ+ players, employees and fans.
The league includes numerous openly gay athletes, and several current and former professional women’s basketball players have publicly dated or married other women connected to the sport.
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Clark, by contrast, is publicly dating Connor McCaffery, a former Iowa men’s basketball player. The couple began dating in 2023 and celebrated their third anniversary in April.
That contrast has fueled speculation among some fans and commentators that Clark is viewed as a cultural outsider within the league and that resentment extends beyond ordinary competition. Some have also questioned whether race, sexuality, politics or jealousy over Clark’s extraordinary popularity play a role in the hostility directed at her.
No evidence has conclusively established that Clark is being fouled because she is white, heterosexual or dating McCaffery. Nunn’s public comments have centered primarily on dangerous contact, inconsistent officiating and the WNBA’s obligation to provide a safe workplace.
However, the congressional letter acknowledged reports that some attacks may be racially motivated and said any actual discrimination should be investigated by the proper federal agencies.
Clark has generally avoided becoming involved in the political and cultural warfare surrounding her career. She has called for better officiating while also condemning racist threats and harassment aimed at Thomas and other WNBA players.
Clark said harassment and hate are unacceptable, whether directed at opponents, teammates or coaches. She also expressed frustration that controversy surrounding the Thomas foul continued to overshadow basketball and dominate coverage days later.
Nunn said his decision to confront the WNBA was driven partly by what young fans are seeing.
He described watching Clark’s games with his daughters and said they have gone from seeing an Iowa athlete inspire millions of girls to watching her take brutal contact while officials sometimes stand by without blowing a whistle.
“I didn’t sign that letter to pick a fight over basketball,” Nunn said. “I signed it because millions of young girls, mine included, picked up a ball because of Caitlin, and they’re watching how the league treats the player they look up to.”
Nunn also noted that support for Clark has crossed party lines in Iowa. The Iowa Legislature unanimously designated February 22 as Caitlin Clark Day in recognition of her achievements and impact on the state.
“That’s because Caitlin has always brought Iowans together,” Nunn said. “Standing up for her shouldn’t divide us now.”
The Indiana Fever said the organization and Clark were not involved in preparing the congressional letter and were unaware of it before it was released. The team nevertheless reiterated that player safety remains a priority and that it would continue standing up for its players.
For Nunn and the other lawmakers, the issue is now squarely in the commissioner’s hands: either the WNBA gets control of the dangerous hits and enforces its rules consistently, or it faces growing demands for outside scrutiny.
There are a lot of players who are “brutally hit” in the WNBA. Some of them are white, some are Black. Nunn is pandering for votes. That said, I watched Dallas play Chicago yesterday and Indiana play Las Vegas. Comparing how Chicago covered Bueckers and how Las Vegas covered Clark, it is clear that Clark is pressured more closely than Bueckers but that might say more about what the scouting reports say about each player. Despite being covered more closely, Clark’s stats in her time in the game compare favorably with Bueckers. I think both players are excellent guards.
Mr. Nunn needs to focus on what his role in life is. He is being paid alot of money by taxpayers to do the job he was elected to do. Being a referee for women’s basketball isn’t included in his job description