TDBS WIRE: Fox News: Former NBA doctor issues chilling warning about abuse of Caitlin Clark
The debate over how the WNBA treats Caitlin Clark intensified this week after a former NBA team physician warned that the escalating physical play directed at the Indiana Fever superstar could eventually lead to a catastrophic injury.
Dr. Nicholas DiNubile, a longtime orthopedic consultant for the Philadelphia 76ers and a nationally recognized sports medicine specialist, sounded the alarm following a recent incident in which Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas was suspended after striking Clark in the throat during a game. “The type of contact and the amount of contact that she gets is concerning to me. It’s troubling to me,” DiNubile said.
His concern goes well beyond ordinary basketball contact.
“You can crush someone’s larynx with very little pressure. Ten to 20 pounds of pressure can damage the throat or larynx area,” DiNubile warned. “Even if you don’t fracture the larynx, a blow to that area, you could get some swelling or bleeding and close the airway and get into a very rapid life-or-death situation.”
I’ve slowed down the video of Caitlin Clark getting punched in the throat, it’s hard to watch.
…can you even IMAGINE the outrage if the races were reversed?
Seriously.
What do you think they would do if a White player PUNCHED THE NECK of a Black basketball player? pic.twitter.com/sS64EZv6V3
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) June 25, 2026
The comments have reignited a controversy that has followed Clark almost from the moment she entered the league in 2024. Since becoming the face of women’s basketball, Clark has repeatedly found herself at the center of incidents involving hard fouls, body checks, eye pokes, aggressive defensive play and physical confrontations that have generated massive attention from fans and media alike.
According to documented reports from across the league, Clark has suffered multiple facial blows, eye injuries, and at one point revealed she had played through a ruptured eardrum. She is currently sidelined with a back injury, adding another layer of concern about the physical toll being placed on the sport’s most recognizable player.
DiNubile suggested many of the risks extend beyond the throat incident. “She gets a lot to her face. She gets poked in the eye. She gets hit in the face,” he said.
The physician also highlighted concerns about defenders crowding Clark’s landing space on three-point attempts. “That’s very, very dangerous,” he said. “Just getting hit on the head and hit across the head, head injuries, concussions, any variety of things like that. Then you fall to the floor and anything can happen when you fall to the floor.”
Asked whether Clark could do anything differently to protect herself, DiNubile offered a blunt answer. “I don’t think there’s anything she can do.”
“It’s hard to protect yourself with those type of plays. That’s why they’re flagrant fouls. There’s no way to really protect yourself in those instances. She takes it in stride. I don’t think she brings any of it on herself.”
The remarks come as scrutiny grows over league officiating. Clark supporters have long argued that referees frequently fail to call obvious fouls against the Fever star, creating an environment where opponents feel emboldened to push the limits physically.
DiNubile appeared to agree. “I think they should be calling things,” he said. “They can officiate better. I mean, how do they miss this?”
The league has found itself navigating a delicate balancing act. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently issued a statement condemning threats and abusive conduct directed at Alyssa Thomas following the incident. Critics, however, noted that the league did not issue a similar public statement expressing concern for Clark after the throat strike occurred. “The safety and well-being of everyone in our community is always the league’s top priority,” Engelbert said.
Meanwhile, Fever coach Stephanie White publicly defended Thomas against online abuse and condemned what she described as increasing “toxicity, racism, homophobia, straight-out nonsense” directed toward players throughout the league. What remains undeniable is Clark’s impact on the business of women’s basketball. Television ratings, attendance, merchandise sales and national media coverage have all surged since her arrival. Whether league officials acknowledge it or not, Clark has become the engine driving unprecedented interest in the WNBA.
Let’s dispense with the nonsense.
If Patrick Mahomes got punched in the throat and officials swallowed the whistle, sports media would be talking about it for six months. If Aaron Judge took repeated shots to the head while umpires looked the other way, every sports show in America would lead with it.
But when it’s Caitlin Clark?
Suddenly we’re told we’re imagining things.
The WNBA has spent two years enjoying the ratings, sold-out arenas, television exposure and sponsorship dollars that Clark brought to the league. The league cashes the checks generated by Caitlin Clark every day. Yet somehow it still struggles to protect the player responsible for much of that growth.
Dr. DiNubile isn’t some fan posting on social media. He’s a respected sports physician warning that some of these plays carry legitimate injury risks. A throat shot isn’t “part of the game.” Neither are repeated blows to the head, eye pokes and dangerous contact around a shooter’s landing area.
The same league that can issue statements within minutes about online comments often seems far less concerned about what happens between the lines on the hardwood.
Nobody is asking for special treatment. People are asking for the rules to be enforced. Then again, if the officials started calling every obvious foul on Clark, half the league might foul out by halftime.
(Video: Fox News)
TDBS SOURCES:
- Fox News: Former NBA doctor issues chilling warning about abuse of Caitlin Clark
- OutKick: Former NBA physician warns league risks injury to Caitlin Clark if officials fail to act
- Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark continues to absorb hard fouls as debate grows over WNBA officiating
- FOX 59 Indianapolis: Indiana Fever supporters question league response to repeated fouls on Clark
- New York Post: Critics blast WNBA officials after latest physical incidents involving Caitlin Clark
