CNN’s Abby Phillip claims GOP lawmakers back Caitlin Clark ‘exclusively’ because she is White

Multiple lawmakers wrote a letter to the WNBA regarding the treatment of Caitlin Clark, but two people speaking on CNN this week believe it was racially motivated.

Members of Congress wrote a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert demanding accountability and answers regarding Clark’s handling on the court, which included multiple hard fouls.

Appearing on CNN’s “Table for Five,” former ESPN broadcaster Carl Champion said the letter was “really, very disrespectful” and claimed Clark’s on-court treatment was nothing new for the WNBA.

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“This is coming from people who don’t watch sports and have never watched women’s basketball. They’re probably more fans of Caitlin Clark than the sport itself or the Indiana Fever. What happened to Caitlin has been happening since the beginning of the WNBA. These women play hard. They play hard. This is the sport,” Champion said.

Champion also said it was “disrespectful” for lawmakers to say the treatment was potentially racially motivated because it “leaves out the long history of black women supporting and starting this league.”

“70% of the people in the league are LGBTQIA and Black, and they’re literally sitting here thinking, OK, why now, for playing the game we play, are people demanding that we be investigated for doing what we’re supposed to do? Can you imagine going to work every day, trying to do your job, but being afraid of being attacked and getting death threats?”

Abby Philip He interjected that lawmakers only supported Clark because of his race.

CONGRESSOR EXPLAINS WHY SHE SIGNED LETTER TO WNBA DEMANDING ANSWERS ABOUT CAITLIN CLARK’S TREATMENT

“The problem with Caitlin Clark is that she’s a superstar. She’s great at what she does. But the attention she gets from Republicans and the government seems to be just because she’s white,” he said.

“That’s the only reason,” the Champion replied.

Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever passes the ball to Dearica Hamby #5 of the Los Angeles Sparks during the second quarter of the game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on July 8, 2026. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

The letter stated that the “face of your league” was subject to “repeated acts of unnecessary physical hostility and violence” and that Engelbert had a responsibility to ensure that every player competed in a “safe and professional environment.”

“As a commissioner, you have an obligation to ensure that every player competes in a safe and professional environment, both on and off the field, free from violence, discrimination or retaliation,” the MPs wrote. “If discrimination or retaliation occurs and creates a hostile work environment, we support any appropriate investigation by the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If true, such conduct could constitute a violation of federal civil rights laws.”

The letter concluded by urging the league to take stronger action.

“The league has a tremendous opportunity to inspire the next generation of female athletes to pursue athletics, but that opportunity is undermined when its brightest stars are inadequately protected,” the letter states. “Your fans deserve better, and so do the young girls who look to the WNBA as a model for excellence, sportsmanship and opportunity.”

Clark recently went after the WNBA, saying it needs to do a better job of protecting its players both on and off the court.

Indiana Fever players Lexie Hull (10), Caitlin Clark (22) and Damiris Dantas (12) celebrate after the game against the Phoenix Mercury at PHX Arena on July 9, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images)

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OutKick’s Amber Harding contributed to this report.

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