Rep. Marlin Stutzman Sounds Off on the WNBA's Failure to Protect Caitlin Clark on Wired In Live
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Study Committee (RSC) Member Rep. Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) joined the Daily Wire's Wired In Live program to discuss the RSC's letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert demanding accountability following repeated acts of physical violence against the league's star player, Caitlin Clark.
Rep. Stutzman emphasized Clark's transformative impact on women's sports, noting that her popularity has driven unprecedented attention and growth for the league, and criticized the lack of respect shown to her by both opposing players and the league itself. He also pointed to the letter's warning that continued inaction could expose the WNBA to a crackdown from the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for violations of federal civil rights law.
Watch and listen to the full episode here.
Read highlights from Rep. Stutzman below:
On why the RSC sent the letter: “We, as a group with the Republican Study Committee, which is a group of conservatives in Congress, sent a letter together, with our Chairman August Pfluger leading on that letter, and saying to the WNBA Commissioner that they need to look out for every player, but particularly in this case, Caitlin Clark.”
On how Clark has revived popularity for the WNBA: “If the WNBA thinks that they hit a home run here by themselves, they didn't. This was Caitlin Clark who came in, and she drains threes, like you mentioned, she has brought a whole new excitement and attention to the WNBA. She started this even at Iowa when she played for the Hawkeyes in her NCAA career.”
On why Clark is being targeted: “While she's on the ground vulnerable…one of the opposing players puts her fist into her neck. And you can tell it was blatant, like she wanted to try to hurt her without it being noticed. And the referees didn't even call a foul. And then they did go back and suspend the player for one game. But they need to protect every player, but they specifically need to not let this targeting continue against Caitlin Clark because of what I think is egos and maybe even some racism.”
On why Congress got involved: “We represent our constituents. I represent Northeast Indiana. I have a lot of fans of the Indiana Fever. And, you know, this is a workplace environment, first of all. Yes, it's entertainment, it's basketball, it's a sport, but these players, this is their job. They sign contracts for paychecks to be out on the court playing. And, you know, just like in any other business, out on the construction site or out on the farm or, you know, in our schools, firehouses, wherever are people that are working and it's an unsafe environment. If somebody would have fallen on the floor out on a construction site and somebody else kneels down and pushes somebody in the throat, they would have been charged with harassment or assault.”