Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston has spoken out against the aggressive play that led to teammate Caitlin Clark being punched in the throat by Phoenix Mercury rival Alyssa Thomas, intensifying scrutiny on the WNBA.
Thomas struck Clark with a closed fist to the neck while Clark was on the ground during a recent game. The incident has drawn renewed attention to player conduct and the league's handling of such events. Boston, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, addressed the play on her podcast with WNBA legend Candace Parker, stating, "That should've never been done. You don't put your hand on someone's throat and damn-near kick them on the floor. It's a basketball game. What are we doing?"
Parker, sharing her own experiences with rough play in the league, echoed Boston's concerns. "I've been on the side of some players' rough play... But in terms of taking it farther than that, it's like, what are we doing?"
The fallout from the incident has been significant. Thomas reported facing racial abuse and threats to her and her family online. In response, Clark addressed the situation publicly for the first time, condemning the harassment directed at Thomas. "As I've stood up here and said before, like the harassment, the hate, none of that is okay. That goes for the opposing team we play, that goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches, there should never be a question of character," Clark said.
Clark also expressed concern that the media's prolonged focus on the incident, which occurred on June 24, was detrimental to the WNBA's growth and overshadowed other team performances. "It's really interesting to me because, I turned the TV on on Sunday, and that game was on Wednesday, and that's all people are still talking about," Clark stated. "And I feel like that's just a real disservice to our league."
She added that the continuous discussion was a "disservice to our league" and made her "feel bad for the players that were playing the games those days. And also, I feel bad for my teammates." Clark believes it is the responsibility of players and media alike to help refocus narratives to foster the game's advancement.