Women’s Sports Advocacy Groups Debate Caitlin Clark’s Stance on Fever Demonstrations

Caitlin Clark’s response to questions about ongoing demonstrations at Indiana Fever games has ignited disagreement among women’s sports advocates and her supporters, with prominent figures including Dave Portnoy and Megyn Kelly clashing publicly over her answer on social media platform X.

Clark was asked Sunday to address the controversy surrounding protests outside the team’s recent games. Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham had expressed support in late July for protecting women’s sports from transgender athletes, sparking both rallies supporting her position and counterprotests at the last three games. Rather than take a position, Clark deferred responsibility to league leadership and governing bodies.

“I think it’s for leagues and the governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions. Our focus is on basketball,” Clark said, declining to elaborate further when pressed on the matter.

Women’s sports advocacy organizations responded with mixed reactions to Clark’s deflection. ICONS co-founder Marshi Smith argued that athletes should not be forced to “pick a side” and criticized sport leaders for failing to establish clear policies, which places the burden on players themselves.

Independent Women President Carrie Lukas criticized Clark’s approach as a disservice to female athletes, arguing that defending women’s sports should be straightforward and that league leadership bears responsibility for the controversy.

Concerned Women for America, Moms for Liberty, and the Independent Women’s Law Center each released statements calling for the WNBA to adopt explicit policies restricting participation to biological women and urging athletes like Clark to speak out publicly in defense of female athletes.