All it would’ve taken was just one whistle. But after officials completely missed the “egregious” physical altercation between Alyssa Thomas and Caitlin Clark, one the WNBA later deemed worthy of a one-game suspension, the backlash reached beyond the hardwood. Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett publicly called out the league over the treatment of its biggest star, and his warning was direct.

“It’s trashy; she gets the crap kicked out of her,” Congressman Tim Burchett said, as per TMZ. “WNBA is an opportunity for women to take it to the next level. And I think she’s an exceptional athlete, and she’s being just abused physically.”

“WNBA doesn’t even put her on their 30th-year poster. I think something’s up. Everybody knows what’s up, and they’re gonna lose, cause some European league is going to pull her in and they’ll pay her and she’ll pull out and they’ll all be back flying coach,” he further added.

“I think she’s being abused because I really do, I think it’s allowed, and it’s kind of their thing now, and you know they weren’t making any money when they were just playing legitimate ball, and now they’re gonna go this route.”

Burchett’s comments are not arriving in a vacuum. Just days ago, the WNBA unveiled its 30th anniversary promotional artwork, featuring stars ranging from Paige Bueckers and Napheesa Collier to Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson, and Sophie Cunningham. Clark, despite being among the most commercially significant players the league has ever had, was absent from it. The omission had already drawn significant fan backlash before Wednesday’s game even tipped off.

That decision is difficult to separate from the context around Clark’s impact. Record-breaking television ratings, sold-out arenas, historic merchandise sales, and unprecedented media attention have all tracked directly to her presence in the league over the past two season. Leaving her off the anniversary poster was an avoidable mistake. But it landed with particular force given what followed on the court.

Against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, Alyssa Thomas struck Clark in the throat. No foul was called in real time. Head coach Stephanie White flagged the play to officials at halftime but the game moved forward regardless. Less than 24 hours later, the WNBA assessed Thomas a one-game suspension and a Flagrant Foul 2, confirming that a reviewable act of misconduct had been missed on the floor entirely.

That sequence is what gives Burchett’s words their wider resonance. Through the 2026 season, Clark has repeatedly found herself in contentious exchanges with officials. She has been picking up technical fouls for incidents ranging from a team delay-of-game violation to a widely criticized call for clapping. These moments are now getting stacked alongside a play the league itself retroactively classified as Flagrant 2. The questions about how the 23-year-old is being managed on the floor do not go away easily.

But now, though the political commentary matters, the more immediate concern for Indiana is physical.

All Eyes Are Now on Caitlin Clark’s Health

Late in the third quarter against Phoenix, Clark went up for a three-point attempt and landed awkwardly after Valeriane Ayayi failed to provide her with clear landing space. She immediately grabbed her back in visible discomfort and headed to the locker room. Indiana ruled her out for the remainder of the game with a back injury.

Now, that’s a concerning point for a team that is looking to be the championship contenders this season because Caitlin Clark has already been dealing with back issues throughout the 2026 season. So if this turns out ot be something serious, they Fever will have to face some of the ghosts from their pasts.

Back in 2025, Clark had to be sidelined from the WNBA season after playing just 13 games due to injuries, and that’s something no one wants to relive. But for now, there has been no further update from the team beyond listing Caitlin Clark as day-to-day. Until that status changes to “available,” all Indiana fans can do is wait and hope to have their superstar back when the Fever take on the Los Angeles Sparks on June 27.