The WNBA has suspended Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas for one game following an incident where she made contact with Caitlin Clark's throat during a Wednesday night game against the Indiana Fever. The league classified the action as a Flagrant Foul 2, designating it as a non-basketball act. Officials on the court did not call a foul during the play.
The WNBA retains the authority to review game footage and reclassify fouls, including elevating uncalled fouls to Flagrant status. Thomas is scheduled to serve her suspension on Saturday when the Mercury play the Toronto Tempo.
Fever coach Stephanie White described the play as "egregious" and expressed frustration that it was not called during the game. "You got to call it," White stated. "You’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that (expletive) still happens? Absolutely unacceptable."
This is not the first instance of the league reviewing and upgrading a foul involving Clark. Last season, Marina Mabrey received a technical foul that was later upgraded to a Flagrant 2 after a game against the Fever. The NBA has also previously upgraded plays that resulted in suspensions.
The recent matchup between the Mercury and the Fever, which Phoenix won 111-109, followed a game on Monday night that saw six technical fouls and one ejection. Clark received her fifth technical foul of the season in that earlier game, a call the WNBA confirmed would stand despite a team petition to rescind it.
Clark exited Wednesday's game in the third quarter due to a back issue. She appeared to injure her back in the second quarter after being fouled while shooting a three-pointer, falling to the court and afterward receiving treatment with a wrap around her back. She finished the game with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes of play.