The WNBA didn't waste any time handing down punishment after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas delivered a blatant cheap shot to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. On Thursday, the league announced a one-game suspension and a Flagrant Foul 2 for Thomas, citing her reckless fist-to-throat contact during Wednesday night's game.
The incident occurred with 6:52 left in the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Thomas, scrambling for position, drove her fist into Clark's throat area. Remarkably, no foul was called on the play—a decision that left Fever coach Stephanie White fuming after the game.
“Absolutely disrespectful. We spent all offseason looking at officiating, and I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency,” White said. “[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. … When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating.”
The league's postgame review led to the suspension, which will keep Thomas out of Saturday's matchup against the Toronto Tempo. According to the WNBA, the league office has the authority to reclassify fouls or impose penalties on plays that were not called during the game.
Clark, who was ruled out for the second half with a back injury, did not return to the court. It remains unclear whether the injury occurred during the Thomas hit or another play. White emphasized caution: “We’ve got to be careful. It’s a long season. We’ve got to make sure that she’s healthy.”
The fallout has been swift. Fans and analysts have called for better protection of the star guard, with some even urging Clark to consider leaving the league. But for now, she remains with the Fever, and the controversy surrounding her treatment continues to grow.
This isn't the first time Clark has been at the center of an officiating storm. Earlier this season, she was hit with a technical foul for clapping, a call she called “ridiculous.” The ongoing inconsistency has sparked calls for a boycott among frustrated fans.
For now, the WNBA has made its stance clear: dangerous plays like Thomas's will not be tolerated. But the question remains whether the league will do enough to protect its rising star moving forward.
