The WNBA has suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for hitting Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark in the throat during a game on Wednesday night. The incident occurred in the second quarter of Phoenix’s 111-109 road victory. Thomas was penalised with a Flagrant Foul 2 after a league review.
During the play, Clark drove into the lane and fell to the floor following contact. Thomas and Mercury teammate DeWanna Bonner dived for the ball, and Thomas appeared to knee Clark in the groin before striking her throat with a closed fist. Game officials did not call a foul at the time, prompting Fever coach Stephanie White to criticise the lack of protection for Clark.
White said in her post-match press conference: “We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called. Absolutely unacceptable.” She argued that Clark is officiated differently from other players, citing a pattern of missed calls. The league is permitted to reclassify fouls after the fact.
Less than a minute after the no-call, Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi fouled Clark on a three-point attempt. Clark landed on Ayayi’s foot, and White argued it should have been upgraded to a flagrant foul, but officials maintained it as a common foul. Clark finished with 19 points but left in the third quarter with a back injury, unrelated to the no-calls.
Thomas will serve her suspension on Saturday when the Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo. The WNBA has previously upgraded fouls against Clark, including a Flagrant 2 for Marina Mabrey last season. The league’s officiating has been under scrutiny, with a taskforce assembled to improve consistency. White, a member of that taskforce, stressed: “We spent all offseason looking at officiating ... The fist in the throat is crazy. It’s dangerous.”
