[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 22, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CAITLIN CLARK

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on a second matter, I want to talk about 
Caitlin Clark, a native of West Des Moines, IA. Caitlin Clark played 
basketball at the University of Iowa. She changed women's college 
basketball but also inspired athletes of all ages across all sports. 
She plays professionally for the Indiana Fever.
  Since joining the professional ranks 3 years ago, Caitlin has been 
the subject of very unfair treatment on the basketball court, and the 
referees are not doing their job.
  Recently, she got a fist to her throat by a player. Yet, the refs at 
the time did not call a foul. I am glad that the WNBA corrected this 
matter a few days later by charging a foul and suspending the player, 
but the unfair treatment of Caitlin and others in the WNBA has got to 
stop.
  Officials are human, but we have seen time after time where Caitlin 
has suffered physically--beyond what you would expect in competitive 
professional sports--with little accountability from the people that 
run the WNBA or from the referees.
  So I hope for Caitlin--and for the growth of women's basketball--
things improve quickly in the WNBA. Caitlin is a generational talent. 
Her hard work and dedication should be rewarded, not penalized.
  She has revolutionized WNBA. Attendance has shot up since she has 
been with the Indiana Fever, and income has shot up for the league and 
their teams. Salaries for players went from five figures to six 
figures, all because of her playing. So every player of all teams are 
better off. They should be thanking Caitlin as opposed to mistreating 
her on the floor.
  Someday I would like to meet Caitlin Clark.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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