Dan Dakich has had enough of the WNBA’s treatment of Caitlin Clark.
Dakich, 63, teed off on the WNBA, the head of officials, Sue Blanch, and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for their handling of the Indiana Fever’s superstar, and the continued physical play to which she has become subject.
“It’s complete bulls— the way this league is handling it. It’s utter bulls—. And frankly, I’m going to the league office. I’m calling out the commissioner. I’m calling out the head of officials.” Dakich said during a recent episode of OutKick’s “Dan Dakich Unfiltered.”
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Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas scrambles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 24, 2026. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 111-109. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
During the Fever’s 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, Clark was punched in the throat by Alyssa Thomas while lying on the court after a scrum. No foul was called at the time, and Clark left the game due to injury.
Thomas was later assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty, and suspended the center for “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area.”
Dakich said that the WNBA’s problem is that they have DEI officials. He said that college basketball, the NBA and NFL also have the same problem, but the WNBA is at the forefront of it.
“The WNBA is at the forefront of DEI if they have unqualified people that cannot handle calling a game like that. And frankly, it’s always the same African-American woman that doesn’t make calls, at least according to Caitlin Clark and her fans. Disrespectful, unacceptable. Uh-uh. That’s not what we’re supposed to say,” Dakich said.
“We’re supposed to call it for what it is. Complete bulls— and a joke of a league for not stepping in and doing something.”
OUTKICK SPORTS CARTOON OF THE DAY: THE LATEST ATTACK ON CAITLIN CLARK
Caitlin Clark left the Indiana Fever’s Wednesday game against the Phoenix Mercury after suffering a back injury. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Dakich praised Fever coach Stephanie White but blasted the Fever’s COO and general manager, Amber Cox, for her silence on the issue of Clark’s continued treatment.
“Amber Cox, who’s the president of the freaking Fever. Her dumbas– was on Twitter last night congratulating fans for different things. I mean, I’ve never heard her stand up. I’ve never heard, not one single time, have I heard, not once, have I heard the commissioner of the league, (Cathy Engelbert),” Dakich said.
“They’re all afraid of angry African-American lesbians. They’re all afraid, like I guess we were all supposed to be back in 2020, of the media making you racist. Does being called a racist really bother you anymore? Does it even matter?”
Dakich then called on the Fever’s leadership to encourage players to stick up for Clark, and to empty the bench the next time it happens.
“If I am the leadership of the Fever, I’m getting somebody in there that’s going to kick somebody’s a–. I mean, I am not allowing this to happen any longer. In fact, I don’t know their team. It seems like everybody gives Sophie Cunningham the pass on being an enforcer. She tackled a girl from behind. That’s fine,” Dakich said.
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ESPN analyst Dan Dakich prior to the game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York, on Jan. 12, 2019. (Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
“But there needs to be an extended bench-clearing brawl. A ‘Malice at the Palace’-type thing for the next time somebody touches Caitlin Clark in such a way that it is menacing. And that’s exactly what this is. This is menacing behavior.”
Clark is not playing in the Fever’s upcoming game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
The Fever are 10-8 this season, and Clark has played in all but one game. In 17 games, she has averaged 21.2 points, 8.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game.
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