On Tuesday, 11 Republican Congressional members sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, asking her to address the alleged “repeated acts of unnecessary physical hostility and violence” against Caitlin Clark.
The following day, the Indiana Fever responded by saying that the team “nor Caitlin have had any interaction with anyone in this congressional group and we were unaware of their letter.”
On Thursday, it was Fever coach Stephanie White’s inevitable turn to answer questions regarding that letter.
Fever Coach Stephanie White Shares Honest Take on Congress’ Caitlin Clark Letter
In a letter from the Republican Study Committee (RSC), the group asked for accountability from Engelbert following a series of allegedly overly physical fouls against Clark since she joined the WNBA in 2024.
The letter included the hip-check, the eye poke, and the recent fist to the throat that Clark has endured, all of which raised concerns. According to the legislators, “these attacks against Caitlin Clark may be racially motivated.”
Following the Fever’s game against the Mercury on Thursday, White responded when asked to comment on that letter. “Our team made a statement yesterday, so you can find that statement.”
When pressed for her personal insight since it involves the franchise player, the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year added:
“Again, that is something we can control. We are not affiliated with those groups. We try to keep the main thing the main thing and focus on the things we can control.”
Fever head coach Stephanie White refused to address the letter sent by several members of Congress to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert about the treatment of Caitlin Clark by other players and whether it’s racially motivated.
“We’re not affiliated with any of those groups.” pic.twitter.com/4vuldY2klH
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) July 10, 2026
In its response to the RSC’s concerns, Fever emphasized that it is in “ongoing dialogue with the league about the priority of player safety.” It added that Fever “players and fans know where we stand on those issues.”
The league commissioner has been given until July 24 to answer the following questions:
“1. What is your review mechanism for physical hostility and violence on the court?
“2. How will you hold players accountable for overly aggressive actions on the court, including towards Caitlin Clark?
“3. What steps are you taking to protect WNBA players from online harassment and off the court threats?”
The physical play against Clark took an ugly turn when she was hit on the throat by Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas during a June 24 game. White complained to the referees at halftime and during her postgame press conference. The coach called that play “cheap” and “disrespectful.”
A day after the controversial play, the league handed Thomas a one-game suspension and a $1,000 fine. For her part, the six-time All-Star said that she received death threats and racial abuse. She called out the commissioner for not doing more to address those acts.
Thomas received support from some WNBA community members. ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike took heavy flak after saying that the “free-frame” of the hit highlighted the “optics” that led to the suspension.
Now, some members of Congress have stepped forward, asking Engelbert for answers.
For White, that dialogue will be between the league commissioner and the legislators after the team has already made a statement.
