Eight Olympians from three different countries have voiced criticism of the WNBA's handling of player Caitlin Clark, asserting that the league must enhance athlete safety and ensure consistent officiating. The concerns come amid a period of increased scrutiny following several on-court incidents involving Clark and reactions from within the league.
Nancy Hogshead Makar, a three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer for the U.S., stated that the WNBA needs "the courage to act decisively for athlete safety." She added, "Caitlin Clark is a generational superstar, but she deserves the same protection as every player." Hogshead emphasized that dangerous conduct should not go unchecked and called for the league to enforce its rules, hold offenders accountable, and prioritize player safety.
Anthony Watson, the first Olympian to represent Jamaica in skeleton, commented on the shift in conversation surrounding Clark. "She has faced repeated hard fouls and relentless criticism," Watson said. "The reality is that Caitlin Clark brought unprecedented attention back to the WNBA." He noted that Clark's impact expanded the league's audience and that transcendent athletes elevate their sport. Watson believes the league's focus should be on allowing competition to be the headline, not controversy, and on protecting its players.
Two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist swimmer Donna de Varona criticized the behavior directed at Clark as "disrespectful and short sighted." She stated that players who do not understand how a talented performer lifts up everyone are undermining the WNBA.
Katie Uhlaender, a five-time Olympian in skeleton for the U.S., expressed concern over an incident where Clark had a fist pressed against her throat, questioning what actions the WNBA is taking. "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 whether the integrity of the officials are up to standard," Uhlaender said, urging the WNBA to uphold the integrity of the rules consistently.
Steffen Gebhardt, an Olympian and world champion in modern pentathlon for Germany, suggested that when a league's public focus shifts to peripheral drama, the league will suffer. Eli Bremer, a U.S. modern pentathlete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, criticized the WNBA for what he described as "botching a once in a generation opportunity with an athlete like Caitlin Clark." He added, "If the WNBA wants to become a truly relevant sports league that offers women a high-paid professional opportunity, they will need to clear out the petty drama and focus on building a world-class sporting operation that supports their star athletes."
Inga Thompson, a three-time Olympian in women's cycling for the U.S., expressed hope that Clark will be recognized as a passionate athlete and a generational player, urging the league to celebrate her and her teammates. Carrie Englert Zimmerman, a U.S. women's gymnast at the 1976 Montreal Games, stated that the WNBA has not been aggressive enough in protecting Clark, emphasizing that all players deserve safeguards and that talent should be challenged by basketball, not by "unchecked cheap shots."