U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is calling for former Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark to be treated like “every other player” after another player pushed down on her throat with her fist.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas will be suspended one game after pressing her fist against Clark’s throat during the Indiana Fever’s 111–109 loss to the Mercury on Wednesday, June 24.
Officials did not call a foul when the incident occurred. The WNBA upgraded the play to a Flagrant 2 foul on Thursday, June 25.
In a statement, the WNBA said that Thomas “recklessly” made contact with Clark and “committed a non-basketball act.” Thomas, suspended for one game, will miss the Mercury’s game on Saturday, June 27, against the Toronto Tempo.
The June 24 game followed a June 22 game between the Fever and the Mercury, where Phoenix’s DeWanna Bonner and Clark had to be separated, which resulted in five players, including Clark, receiving technical fouls.
Fever head coach Stephanie White said after the game that the missed call was “absolutely disrespectful,” and questioned the consistency of how Clark is officiated.
“(Clark) is not called the same way as everybody else is called. The fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous,” White said. “When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating.”
Grassley, in a post on X, said agreed. He said Clark “gets consistently treated unfairly on the court.”
“As a fan I don’t appreciate ill treatment,” he said.
Clark left the June 24 game against the Mercury in the third quarter with a back injury. The Fever play the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, June 27. Clark will not play.
Register reporter Cooper Worth contributed to this article.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Chuck Grassley shares thoughts on Caitlin Clark’s treatment
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
