WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert needed a nudge to suspend Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury for her incident with the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark on June 24, according to a new report.
Sports Business Journal, citing sources, reported July 15 that NBA commissioner Adam Silver implored Engelbert to suspend Thomas for placing her fist on Clark’s throat during a battle for a loose ball. A WNBA spokesperson called the assertion “absolutely false.”
Engelbert initially leaned against a suspension because no foul had been called on the play, and such a penalty would be a large leap, SBJ reported. Silver believed there was clear evidence of a flagrant foul and a suspension was warranted.
Silver spoke at NBA Summer League on Tuesday, July 14, saying: “I think Cathy continues to do a strong job building that league.” He added: “We’ll have ongoing discussions about what the future looks like.”
However, Silver did not address the Thomas situation.
Engelbert was believed to be on thin ice before the league and its players’ association settled on a collective bargaining agreement that included large player salary increases.
However, the league’s approach to Clark has remained a dilemma. A group of congresspeople urged the WNBA to “protect” Clark from rough play, though the WNBA doesn’t want to appear to be favoring any single player, sources told SBJ. There is also perceived jealousy from many players over Clark’s massive popularity that could lead to volatile situations on-court.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Silver urged Engelbert to suspend Alyssa Thomas for incident with Caitlin Clark
Reporting by Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
