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The Street

Colin Salao

NBA commissioner offers candid opinion on Caitlin Clark saga

Caitlin Clark Adam Silver NBA WNBA

The NBA playoffs have been in progress for nearly two months and the finals tipped off last night. But for the past few weeks the WNBA and Caitlin Clark have dominated the headlines.

In particular, the focus has been on Clark's treatment, on and off the court. And while she played her first pro game for the Indiana Fever less than a month ago, the narrative has tired out even the WNBA players who were clamoring for more attention to the league.

Members of the Chicago Sky team claimed that on Wednesday, June 5, the media harassed them following Chennedy Carter's hip check of Clark during their matchup on June 1.

The rest of the league, including Clark, has been showered with questions about the physicality of the game and in particular other teams' approach to defending against her.

But the controversy does not change the fact that the WNBA is growing — and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said as much during a news conference before the NBA finals on Thursday.

NBA's Silver: Clark controversy 'healthy' for the WNBA

"I think ultimately, this is very healthy for women's basketball and the WNBA," Silver said. "It's generating tremendous additional interest."

Clark's arrival has expedited the growth that he and other NBA and WNBA executives projected when they launched the league in 1997.

"In fairness to the other players and in fairness to" WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, "this didn't just start this year," Silver said. "Certainly, we're seeing acceleration of it with Caitlin, but many individual stars [have come] into this league over the last several years. ...

"In some ways to me this was a long time coming. If you went back and looked at our original business plan from 28 years ago, we didn't think that it would be such a long timeline to kind of break in to the sort of popularity we're seeing now."

The two leagues work hand in hand. NBA owners own about half the equity in the WNBA, and several teams, including the Phoenix Mercury, Washington Mystics and New York Liberty, are owned by NBA owners of teams that play in the same arena.

NBA's Silver notes 'welcome to the league' moments for Clark

As for the treatment of Clark and teams' tough physical approach to her, Silver took a balanced stance.

"As a fan, obviously, it's nothing new in basketball that there's sort of 'Welcome to the League moments' especially for heralded rookies," Silver said. "But of course, I would want to see Caitlin treated fairly and appropriately in the league. I would say it seems like she can take care of herself. She's a tough player."

He reiterated that a strong physical game breeds rivalries that could ultimately benefit the sport.

"So ultimately, I don't want to make too big of an issue about one particular player or one particular call," Silver said. "But I think the burgeoning rivalries in professional basketball ... can be ultimately good for the sport."

NBA's Silver addresses race as an issue in Clark controversy

One part of the narrative surrounding Clark in the WNBA is that some observers have suggested that Clark's race has been a factor in how she's treated by the media and the fans.

On 'The View' this morning, Sunny Hostin weighed in on debate over Caitlin Clark's race:

"If Caitlin Clark is the vehicle ... I have no problem with that."

"But I do think she's more relatable because she's white, because she's attractive." pic.twitter.com/sRe9P9wBGd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 22, 2024

More Caitlin Clark:

Silver said all voices are allowed to say their piece.

"At the same time, there are also some larger societal issues at work. There's no doubt, I don't want to hide from that," Silver said.

"Some having to do with race, and they're very apparent. I think though, sports historically has been a platform to people to talk directly about these issues.

"I don't think we should hide from them, and I think the players are happy to engage on these issues. ... Ultimately, let the public be a part of those conversations as well and of course the media will weigh in."

The NBA under Silver has allowed its players to speak freely on societal issues. In 2020 the league famously allowed its players to kneel during the national anthem after George Floyd was murdered.