Caitlin Clark

On 24 June 2026, Alyssa Thomas struck Clark in the neck during a game and was sanctioned retrospectively. The incident fuelled renewed debate about officiating, protection of Clark and racial treatment of other players; Thomas received death threats and racist insults.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

Clark accumulated seven technical fouls during the 2026 season, mainly through exchanges with referees or opponents. On 8 August, an eighth technical for contact with an official would automatically have triggered a one-game suspension.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the first Fever–Sky game of 2025, Clark committed a hard foul on Angel Reese that was upgraded to a flagrant-1. The WNBA subsequently investigated reports of hateful or racist remarks directed at Reese by spectators.

Michael Lewis sent Caitlin Clark hundreds of threatening and sexually explicit messages and was arrested following an investigation. He pleaded guilty to criminal stalking and harassment charges.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

Chennedy Carter collided with Clark away from the ball during a Fever–Sky game; the league subsequently upgraded the foul to a flagrant-1. The incident prompted extensive controversy about the physical treatment of Clark and a wave of online attacks against Carter.

State of the evidence

Documented

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

Clark's popularity was exploited by some commentators and online accounts to attack Black or LGBTQ+ players. Clark's initial response, saying that she did not control social media, was criticised, notably by DiJonai Carrington, as insufficient.

State of the evidence

Documented

Clark was not selected for the US team at the Paris Olympics, a decision that prompted national controversy given her popularity and her emerging achievements in college and professional basketball.

State of the evidence

Documented

After LSU defeated Iowa in the NCAA final, Angel Reese was widely criticised for repeating the 'You can't see me' gesture in front of Caitlin Clark, although Clark had used the same gesture earlier in the tournament. The contrast in treatment sparked a national debate about racism and double standards.

State of the evidence

Documented