The WNBA has responded to the backlash from a Wednesday night incident between Phoenix Mercury veteran Alyssa Thomas and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark. Thomas and Clark tangled it up on the court, with Thomas pushing her closed fist into Clark’s throat after driving her knee into Clark’s groin area.
Following the game, there was immediate criticism from Fever head coach Stephanie White, who ripped referees for not calling a foul, and several fans on social media who were calling out the mistreatment of one of the faces of the league.
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On Thursday afternoon, the league announced that Thomas has retroactively been assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and will be suspended for one game.
Later in the game, there was another no-call after a Mercury defender stepped into Clark’s landing area on a three-point attempt. On that play, it appeared that Clark had tweaked her nagging back injury.
Clark was eventually forced to leave the game and did not return as the Fever blew a second-half lead and lost the game, 111-109.
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The Fever have now lost three of their last four games and sit at 10-8 on the season. Up next for Indiana is a home game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, June 27, so Clark will have time to fully recover.
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Tip-off between the Fever and Sparks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
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