Did Caitlin Clark sue Alyssa Thomas? Explaining fake report that has fooled WNBA fans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A viral post originating from a fan group on Facebook has claimed that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is suing the Phoenix Mercury‘s Alyssa Thomas following last week’s controversial incident in which Thomas’ closed fist made contact with Clark’s throat.
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The post makes the extraordinary claim that Clark is suing Thomas for $90 million following “the controversial physical incidents.” It includes an AI-generated image of Thomas crying and says that the six-time WNBA All-Star has been handed an “extended suspension.”
It should go without saying that the post is bogus, and more insidiously, it serves as promotional content for a line of Fever-themed merchandise.
The WNBA suspended Thomas for one game following the incident. The league retroactively reviewed the play as the referees did not call a foul during the game itself, which ended with an 111-109 victory for the visiting Mercury.
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During the past week, Thomas has been subject to an online harassment campaign that drew national attention and saw Fever head coach Stephanie White — her former coach with the Connecticut Sun — slam the fan behavior as “unacceptable.”
Thomas served her suspension on Saturday, when the Mercury secured a road win over the Toronto Tempo, and she will return to the Phoenix lineup on Thursday night against the Seattle Storm.
Clark sat out for the second half of the Fever’s loss to the Mercury with a back injury, and the two-time All-Star did not play in Indiana’s 111-87 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday.
It is uncertain as to whether Clark will play Sunday when the Fever visit the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.
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