The WNBA has suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game following an incident where she made contact with her fist to Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark's throat during Wednesday night's matchup. The league reviewed the play and deemed it a non-basketball act, issuing a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty despite no foul being called by officials during the game.
Key Takeaways
The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game after she made contact with her fist to Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark's throat during a matchup. The league reviewed the play and deemed it a non-basketball act, issuing a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty despite no foul being called by officials during the game.
- Alyssa Thomas suspended for one game after hitting Caitlin Clark in the throat
- Incident occurred with 6:52 left in the second quarter of Wednesday's game
- WNBA reviewed play and issued a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty
- Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White criticized lack of initial call, calling it 'absolutely unacceptable' and 'egregious'
- Clark left the game due to a back issue but finished with 19 points and eight assists
⚖
▼Source Claims Check
2 Differences FoundAll 5 publishers report consistent facts across 4 key claims. 2 points of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension Details | 1 Difference | Majority reports suspension details; Fox News attributes it to bias and DEI initiatives. | ▼ |
| League's Authority To Review Games | 1 Difference | Majority reports league's authority; Fox News attributes it to bias and DEI initiatives. | ▼ |
| Incident Description | Broad Agreement | recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area | |
| Game Outcome | Broad Agreement | Mercury won 111-109, Clark left due to back issue | |
| Initial Call By Officials | Broad Agreement | No foul called during the game | |
| Caitlin Clark's Injury | Broad Agreement | Clark left the game due to a back issue, finished with 19 points and eight assists |
Suspension Details
▼Majority reports suspension details; Fox News attributes it to bias and DEI initiatives.
League's Authority To Review Games
▼Majority reports league's authority; Fox News attributes it to bias and DEI initiatives.
Incident Description
Broad Agreementrecklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area
Game Outcome
Broad AgreementMercury won 111-109, Clark left due to back issue
Initial Call By Officials
Broad AgreementNo foul called during the game
Caitlin Clark's Injury
Broad AgreementClark left the game due to a back issue, finished with 19 points and eight assists
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The incident occurred with 6:52 left in the second quarter of the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Thomas will serve her suspension on Saturday when the Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo. Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White criticized the lack of an initial call, stating it was 'absolutely unacceptable' and 'egregious'.
The WNBA has the authority to review games and reclassify fouls or assign flagrant fouls if deemed necessary. This is not the first time the league has upgraded a foul against Clark. Last season, Marina Mabrey received a technical foul that was later upgraded to a Flagrant 2.
The Fever renewed their call for player safety in a statement on Thursday, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing it within the league. The Mercury won Wednesday's game 111-109, but Clark left the game in the third quarter due to a back issue and finished with 19 points and eight assists.
Alyssa Thomas has received support from her teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith and Mercury Associate Head Coach Kristi Toliver. Diggins-Smith posted on Threads, 'It’s FREE AT until AT FREE!! standing with my bestie.' Toliver shared a photo of herself and Thomas on Instagram with the caption: 'When they go low, we go high -Michelle Obama,' referencing a quote from Michelle Obama's 2016 Democratic National Convention speech.
Dan Dakich has criticized the WNBA for its handling of Caitlin Clark's treatment. He called out Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and head of officials Sue Blanch during an episode of OutKick’s 'Dan Dakich Unfiltered.' Dakich praised Fever coach Stephanie White but blasted the team's COO and general manager, Amber Cox, for her silence on the issue.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 5 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.