WNBA suspends Thomas for throat hit against Clark

The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game after a league review of her contact with Caitlin Clark in Indiana's 111-109 loss to Phoenix on Wednesday, June 25.

The league retroactively upgraded the play to a Flagrant Foul 2, saying Thomas made reckless contact with her fist to Clark's throat area. The foul was not called live during the game.

Clark finished with 19 points before leaving in the third quarter with back issues.

What happened

The incident came during a physical second-quarter sequence in Phoenix's win over Indiana. After the game, the play quickly became a major talking point because it was not whistled in real time and was later reviewed by the league.

The suspension means Thomas will miss Phoenix's next game against the Toronto Tempo.

Reaction from Indiana

Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White called the no-call unacceptable and dangerous. Fever president Kelly Krauskopf said player safety should be paramount in the league.

The game added another chapter to the scrutiny around officiating in Fever games and the amount of contact Clark absorbs on the court. The Mercury and Fever also played through a tense matchup that drew immediate attention beyond the final score.

What comes next

Phoenix moves ahead without Thomas for at least one game, while the league's handling of the foul will continue to be examined. Further reporting could clarify whether the WNBA issues any additional explanation or whether Clark's back issue affects her availability for Indiana's next game.