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Caitlin Clark was infamously left out of the final U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team in Paris in 2024.
Two years later, the controversy surrounding the WNBA’s handling of Clark reached many corners of the sports world and attracted the attention of Olympians in several countries.
After weeks of controversy, sparked by a punch to Clark’s throat by another player and which has since shown Clark screaming in the face of referees Wednesday night, eight Olympians from three countries came forward on PK Press Club Digital to speak out against the WNBA in defense of Clark.
Nancy Hogshead, three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer for the United States
Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead Makar is pictured in Jacksonville, Florida on August 28, 2022. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)
“The WNBA needs the courage to act decisively for the safety of athletes. Caitlin Clark is a generational superstar, but she deserves the same protection as all players,” Hogshead told PK Press Club Digital.
“The WNBA cannot continue to allow dangerous conduct to go unchecked. A fist pressed to a player’s throat is never part of the game.” This is completely unacceptable. WNBA: Enforce your rules, hold violators accountable, and prioritize athlete safety. »
Anthony Watson, first Olympian to represent Jamaica in skeleton
Jamaica’s Anthony Watson looks on after completing the third run of the men’s skeleton during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at the Olympic Sliding Center on February 16, 2018, in Pyeongchang. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP)
“As an Olympian, I have always believed that sport has never been about looks or where you come from. It has always been about finding the answer to the one pressing question: Can the champion stay at the top, or can the next contender rise up and take his place? The athletes who prepare the hardest, perform when the pressure is greatest, and deliver in the biggest moments are the ones who deserve respect. Caitlin Clark did just that. Yet instead of celebrating her elite competition, a lot of the conversation has changed to who she is rather than what she’s accomplished,” Watson told PK Press Club Digital.
“She has faced repeated, serious misconduct and relentless criticism that if the roles were reversed, people would now use race as an excuse and the league still seems to be reacting instead of leading. The reality is that Caitlin Clark has brought unprecedented attention back to the WNBA.
“The league had passionate fans before his arrival, but its impact broadened the audience in a way that was hard to ignore. That’s what transcendent athletes do for their generation, they elevate the sport. In every era, there is someone ready to push the standards higher, and that’s how the sport grows.
“Her legacy is already taking shape. The challenge now is not to prove whether she belongs because she has already demonstrated it. She continues to perform at the elite level while the league does its part to protect its players and let competition, not controversy, dominate the headlines.
Donna de Varona, two-time Olympic gold medalist for the United States
President Ronald Reagan with Donna de Varona (blue dress) as they address the Women’s Sports Foundation. (Getty Images)
“For those of us trailblazers who had no college or professional athletic opportunities and who have worked tirelessly to elevate all women in sports, the abusive behavior directed at Caitlin Clark is disrespectful and shortsighted. One talented performer in any sport elevates everyone. Players who don’t understand this are undermining the WNBA,” de Varona told PK Press Club Digital.
Katie Uhlaender, American skeleton athlete, five-time Olympian
Katie Uhlaender will return to the Games with her signature fuschia braids.
“Holy Cow! That’s what I thought when I saw a fist on Caitlin’s throat. Then hearing Sophie [Cunningham] Does she say she feels like they are targeting her? What do we do about it?’” Uhlaender told PK Press Club Digital.
“Safety is not a political issue. All players deserve fair play, safety, and sports are at their best when the focus is on the game, not on ensuring the integrity of officials is upheld. If athletes are questioning officials, what is the WNBA doing to address this issue? I want the integrity of the rules to be upheld consistently, so should the WNBA.”
Steffen Gebhardt, German Olympian and world champion in modern pentathlon
Steffen Gebhardt of Germany rides Vito during a modern pentathlon at the Summer Olympic Games in London. (Sampics/Corbis via Getty Images)
“The goal of every functional sports league should be to promote the sport and the athletes in that sport. The goal of all athletes in the league should be to showcase their athleticism to the fans. When the public focus of the league becomes a peripheral drama that has nothing to do with the core sport, the league will always suffer,” Gebhardt told PK Press Club Digital.
Eli Bremer, American modern pentathlete in Beijing 2008
Eli Bremer of the United States celebrates during the One Touch Men’s Modern Pentathlon Fencing Epee held at the Fencing Hall during day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
“The WNBA never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. After spending years trying to build a social movement rather than an actual sports league, they are now botching a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with an athlete like Caitlin Clark,” Bremer told PK Press Club Digital.
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“If the WNBA wants to become a truly relevant sports league that provides women with a well-paying professional opportunity, it will need to put aside the petty drama and focus on building a world-class sports operation that supports its star athletes.”
Inga Thompson, American women’s cyclist, three-time Olympian
“I noticed that after Congress members sent the letter, the media called for a vote on the 11th best player by the other players and criticized the officiating. The last game went from gutter/rogue ball to pro ball. I hope Caitlin is finally recognized as a passionate athlete and generational player. Celebrate her, her great teammates and the WNBA. Everything should prosper, instead of destroying everything to its core. disappearance,” Thompson told PK Press Club Digital.
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Carrie Englert Zimmerman, American women’s gymnast in Montreal 1976
“The WNBA has not been aggressive enough in protecting Caitlin Clark. Every player in the league deserves the same safeguards when they step on the court. The WNBA’s responsibility is to enforce its rules consistently and make it clear that talent should be challenged by good basketball, not by low, wild shots,” Zimmerman told PK Press Club Digital.
