Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas suspended after fist to Caitlin Clark’s neck

The WNBA looked into the Caitlin Clark-Alyssa Thomas incident on Wednesday night.

Apparently the league didn’t like what it saw.

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas received a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and a one-game suspension after the league reviewed her contact with Clark during the Mercury’s 111-109 win over the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The WNBA announced Thursday that Thomas was penalized for “carelessly making contact with Clark’s throat area with her fist.”

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The play occurred with 6:52 left in the second quarter. While many players were vying for the ball, Clark advanced toward the basket and made his way to the court. During the struggle, Thomas appeared to drive his fist into Clark’s neck and throat area.

No fouls were called during the match.

The WNBA said in a statement Thursday that Thomas’ action was considered a non-basketball act. The league also stated that its office, after reviewing any play, has the ability to reclassify a flagrant foul or reclassify any foul that was not called flagrant during the game. The league may also impose fines or suspensions.

Thomas will serve his sentence on June 27 when the Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo.

The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for a Flagrant 2 foul on Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The decision came after Fever coach Stephanie White lashed out at the referee following the loss.

“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar with two cheap shots that weren’t called right then and there,” White said after the game. he said.

White called Thomas’ non-call “absolutely egregious and extremely disrespectful.”

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White also criticized a separate play in which Clark landed awkwardly after being fouled on a Valeriane Ayayi 3-pointer. Officials investigated the play but did not consider it a flagrant foul. Clark then grabbed him by the back and then left the game and did not return. He finished the game with 19 points and 8 assists in 20 minutes before exiting.

Caitlin Clark left the Indiana Fever after suffering a back injury in Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Mercury. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Suspending Thomas will not change the outcome. Phoenix still won the game 111-109.

However, the league’s decision is important.

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This means White’s complaints aren’t just post-game frustration following a close defeat. The WNBA admitted that, at least in Thomas’ game, referees missed an obvious foul.

This is the part that concerns the league.

Clark is the WNBA’s biggest draw, and the debate about how she is officiated is endless. The league can insist after the fact that games are reviewed, and in this case they did.

But it’s fair to ask why a punch to the throat area had to wait until the next day to become Flagrant 2.