The Mercury forward struck the Indiana Fever star in the throat during a scramble for the ball.
The WNBA has suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game after reviewing an on-court incident involving Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during Wednesday night’s game.
League officials announced Thursday that Thomas also received a flagrant foul penalty following a postgame review. The league determined the play involved reckless contact that was not considered a legitimate basketball action, resulting in disciplinary action one day after the Mercury’s narrow victory over the Fever.
The decision came after a physical sequence during the second quarter drew widespread attention and renewed discussion about officiating and player safety in one of the WNBA’s most closely watched rivalries.
What happened during the game
The incident occurred with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
As Thomas and Clark battled for possession of the ball, Thomas hand made contact with Clark’s throat. Officials allowed play to continue without calling a foul, a decision that quickly became one of the game’s biggest talking points.
Following its routine review process, the WNBA determined the contact warranted a flagrant foul penalty because it involved reckless, non-basketball contact.
Thomas will serve the suspension on June 27 when the Mercury host the Toronto Tempos.
Fever questioned the no call
Indiana’s coaching staff expressed frustration after the game over the lack of an immediate whistle.
The missed call became a central topic during postgame discussions, particularly because Clark appeared to absorb significant contact while competing for the loose ball.
The WNBA has the authority to review every game after it concludes and can either issue new flagrant fouls or upgrade penalties that were originally assessed during live action.
In this case, league officials determined that disciplinary action was appropriate despite no foul being called during the game itself.
Clark also dealt with another hard fall
Later in the second quarter, Clark was involved in another physical play while attempting a 3 point shot.
She fell to the court after releasing the ball and appeared to favor her back as she stood up. Although the shooting foul was called during the game, league officials chose not to upgrade that contact to a flagrant foul following their review.
Clark remained in the contest before leaving during the third quarter. Before exiting, she recorded 19 points and eight assists in just 20 minutes of action. Phoenix ultimately escaped with a 111-109 victory in one of the season’s most intense matchups.
Back concerns continue for Clark
Clark’s early departure also renewed attention on her recent injury history.
The Fever guard has previously managed back discomfort and missed a game in May because of the issue. During her rookie season, she was also limited by several lower body injuries that affected her availability throughout the year.
There has been no indication from the league that Wednesday’s throat contact or later fall resulted in a new significant injury, but her condition will likely continue to be monitored as Indiana moves forward with its schedule.
Clark has become one of the league’s biggest attractions, making her health an important storyline for both the Fever and the WNBA.
Physical rivalry remains under the spotlight
The latest disciplinary decision comes only days after another heated meeting between the Mercury and Fever.
Their previous matchup featured six technical fouls and one player ejection, highlighting the increasingly physical nature of games between the two teams.
Clark also received her fifth technical foul of the season during that contest. Indiana later appealed the penalty, hoping it would be rescinded. After reviewing the play, however, the WNBA decided to let the technical foul stand.
With Thursday’s suspension, league officials have again emphasized their willingness to review incidents after games and issue additional discipline when necessary.
As the season continues, the Mercury and Fever remain two of the league’s most closely followed teams, and future meetings between them are likely to receive even greater attention following another high profile ruling from the WNBA.