USA Today published an article about Caitlin Clark on Wednesday, July 22. The article, a very opinionated piece by Nancy Armour, has generated a lot of controversy as it talked about officiating around Caitlin Clark and how Clark’s on-court protesting and behavior are becoming a problem for the league’s other players.
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Since then, an executive from USA Today has stated in defense of the piece and its author. It is Lark-Marie Anton, the chief communications and brand officer for USA Today.
In an email to Front Office Sports, she wrote: “Nancy is a Sports columnist, and her column is clearly labeled Opinion. Please note that the column has been updated for clarity, and Nancy has addressed the matter here (and below). We will not be commenting further.”
Here’s the thing: The controversy in particular was about Armour’s use of references like Emmett Till from 1955. Armour has, however, admitted that she regrets not providing enough “appropriate context” in her piece, and has released a statement regarding it.
“In my recent column, I made an inartful comparison with the murder of Emmett Till. I intended to connect the issues the WNBA is currently facing with its All-Star Game being hosted in Till’s hometown of Chicago. I obviously did not provide enough context for that,” Armour mentioned.
“However, this point stands: There is a history in this country of perceived threats to white women being weaponized against African-Americans, and the danger that poses to Black players in the league. Players have been abused online and have reported receiving death threats. That has to be taken more seriously.
“I sincerely regret that my lack of appropriate context is overshadowing that important conversation and the actions that need to be taken by the WNBA to address it directly—for the benefit of ALL players.”
In her piece, Armour cited a particular instance surrounding Caitlin Clark that, as per her, later resulted in “putting other people in danger.”
It was Chelsea Gray’s foul on Clark in the Indiana Fever’s game against the Las Vegas Aces. The incident witnessed Gray receiving death threats, online abuse, and racially motivated slurs, once again raising the issue of player safety.
There is no sign of a consensus emerging between Armour and Clark’s fan base over Clark’s involvement in this issue. However, there is one issue where both Armour and Caitlin Clark supporters do agree: that officiating needs to be better in the WNBA.
WNBA’s Officiating Has Been Under Criticism All Season
The WNBA changed the metrics surrounding personal foul calls before the start of the season. This was done to reduce excessive physicality and emphasize freedom of movement. However, everyone, ranging from fans, experts, and coaches, has pointed out the inconsistency in the system and the officiating calls.
Critics have repeatedly pointed to the failure to call hard fouls live. They cite missed calls during major, dangerous sequences, a prime example of which was Alyssa Thomas making contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat. The league issued a Flagrant 2 foul retroactively, a one-game suspension, and a $1000 fine for Thomas the following day.
The league, on its part, implemented an offseason task force and a special post-game texting service for head coaches to review and grade officials. However, as per a report by The Athletic, it revealed deep frustration among league executives who feel logging this feedback is a “waste of time” because they see zero visible adjustments or improvements from game to game.
Notable figures from the league, including Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, have publicly criticized the league’s referee standards. GMs and coaches have pointed out that because WNBA referees are not full-time employees, the league struggles to retain elite, consistent talent.
Caitlin Clark has also shared a similar sentiment.
It remains to be seen what happens with the league’s officiating calls for the rest of the season. For now, the fans will certainly hope to enjoy the All-Star weekend, free from all controversies.