NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reportedly intervened in the WNBA's decision-making process regarding the suspension of player Alyssa Thomas after she made contact with Caitlin Clark's throat during a game. According to a report from the Sports Business Journal, Silver communicated with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, advocating for a suspension.
The incident occurred on June 24, 2026, when Thomas, playing for the Phoenix Mercury, made contact with the throat area of Clark, a guard for the Indiana Fever. Thomas was ultimately suspended for one game and fined $1,000 for a Flagrant 2 penalty for the action.
Initial reports suggested that Engelbert was hesitant to suspend Thomas, believing that a suspension was too severe given that no foul was called on the play itself. However, Silver reportedly felt there was clear evidence of a flagrant foul and expressed the need for the league to take action. League officials reportedly provided suggestions regarding the flagrant foul call after the incident.
Sources cited in the report indicated that Engelbert is navigating a challenging position, attempting to balance fairness to all players with the increased attention on Clark. Some players reportedly feel overshadowed by the league's focus on the Indiana Fever star. The report suggested that Silver's involvement could signal a potential shift in Engelbert's tenure as commissioner.
When asked about Engelbert's future and the league's progress, Silver stated that Engelbert "continues to do a strong job building that league." However, he also noted that "we'll have ongoing discussions about what the future looks like."
Engelbert also recently faced scrutiny after a scheduled interview with "The Dan Patrick Show" was canceled. Patrick stated that his show waited for nearly two hours for Engelbert, but the interview was ultimately called off with what he described as a "feeble" response from the WNBA.