On Thursday, the WNBA announced a one-game suspension for Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, upgrading her contact with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark to a Flagrant Foul 2. The league ruled Thomas "recklessly" drove her fist into Clark’s throat during a scramble in the second quarter of the Mercury’s 111-109 win. No foul was called on the play.
Fever head coach Stephanie White called the non-call "egregious and disrespectful" after the game, accusing officials of overlooking cheap shots on the league’s biggest star. Clark, who also suffered a back injury on a separate contested play, left the game in the second half and did not return.
The WNBA said its review found Thomas’ action to be a non-basketball act, giving the office authority to classify a foul not called during a game. Thomas will serve the ban June 27 against the Toronto Tempo.
White’s frustrations were validated, but the league still faces questions about why such dangerous contact wasn’t penalized in real time. Clark, the WNBA’s top draw, exited Wednesday’s contest with back discomfort after being fouled on a three-point attempt, a play officials reviewed but did not upgrade to a flagrant.