Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas will be suspended one game after pressing her fist against Caitlin Clark’s throat during the Indiana Fever’s 111–109 loss to the Mercury on Wednesday, June 24.
The WNBA upgraded the play to a Flagrant 2 on Thursday, June 25, after officials did not call a foul when the incident occurred on the night before. Thomas pushed down on the former Iowa women’s basketball star’s neck with her fist and appeared to step over her while competing for a loose ball in the second quarter.
Clark later left the game in the third quarter with a back injury. Thomas will miss the Mercury’s game on Saturday, June 27, against the Toronto Tempo.
In a statement, the WNBA said that Thomas “recklessly” made contact with Clark and “committed a non-basketball act.”
“Per WNBA rule, the League Office has the option, following its review of any game, to reclassify a Flagrant foul or to classify as Flagrant any foul not called as such during a game and may impose a fine and/or suspension,” the WNBA said in a statement.
Fever head coach Stephanie White said after the game that the missed call was “absolutely disrespectful,” and questioned the consistency of how Clark is officiated.
“(Clark) is not called the same way as everybody else is called. The fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous,” White said. “When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating.”
Wednesday’s game continues a recent trend of chippiness between the Fever and the Mercury. Clark and Phoenix’s DeWanna Bonner became entangled and had to be separated during the teams’ matchup on June 22, which resulted in five players, including Clark, receiving technical fouls.
The Fever play the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, June 27. Indiana has not announced whether Clark will be available for the game.
USA TODAY network reporter Mitchell Northam contributed to this report.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas after incident with Caitlin Clark
Reporting by Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register / Hawk Central
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By Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
