The Women’s National Basketball Association has not launched an investigation into the refereeing of matches in which basketballer Caitlin Clark was fouled, contrary to posts shared online proliferating the narrative.

The Indianapolis Star reported, opens new tab on the Indiana Fever rookie speaking of the league’s physicality after her team lost to the Los Angeles Sparks in early June: “I think everybody is physical with me, they get away with things that probably other people don’t get away with,” adding: “It’s tough, but that’s just the fact of the matter.”

While Clark has spoken about strong fouls made against her, there is no call for an official investigation into refereeing published on Clark’s social media, opens new tab.

Posts shared the narrative that the WNBA had launched an investigation, with one caption posted on Facebook on June 28, opens new tab saying, in part: “BREAKING:

The WNBA organizers have officially announced an investigation into the referees in all of Caitlin Clark’s games for ignoring all dirty actions by her opponents against her. ‘Some referees have been suspended.’”

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A spokesperson for the WNBA said to Reuters that the claim is “not true.”

There is no such statement on the WNBA website, opens new tab or social media channels, opens new tab, nor are there any credible reports that the WNBA has launched such an investigation.

There is no call for an investigation on the Indiana Fever website, opens new tab.

Posts published on social media in late June link to an article published by the website Bigoakbay, opens new tab. The article in question does not provide any proof of an investigation beyond the citation of unnamed spokespeople.

Bigoakbay did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

VERDICT

False. The WNBA says it has not launched an investigation into the officiating of matches in which basketballer Caitlin Clark was fouled.