Phoenix Mercury All-Star Alyssa Thomas has received a one-game suspension following an incident during a recent game against the Indiana Fever. The suspension was issued after Thomas made contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat, an action the WNBA deemed a “reckless” and “non-basketball act.” The incident occurred during the Mercury’s 111-109 victory over the Fever on Wednesday.
The contact, which was not called a foul during the game, quickly circulated on social media. The league reviewed the play and announced the suspension less than 24 hours after the game. Thomas will serve her suspension during the Mercury’s upcoming game against the Toronto Tempo on Saturday. Flagrant 2 fouls, such as the one assessed to Thomas, also carry a $1,000 fine.
Reactions to the Incident and Suspension
The incident has drawn significant attention and varied reactions. Indiana Fever Head Coach Stephanie White criticized Thomas’s actions and the lack of an immediate foul call during her postgame press conference. White stated that Thomas regularly crosses the line from physical defense to dangerous contact, describing the throat contact as “absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful” and “dangerous.”
Fever President Kelly Krauskopf released a statement supporting the league’s decision, emphasizing player safety. Krauskopf noted, “Player safety should be paramount in our league. We appreciate the WNBA’s review of last night’s incident and the action taken.”
Conversely, some former WNBA players have suggested the situation has been overblown. Cynthia Cooper, a Hall of Famer, commented that the delay in calling the foul contributed to the heightened reaction. She suggested that if the foul had been assessed during the game, the situation might have been handled differently. Cooper stated during Prime’s WNBA postgame show, “This is probably blown out of proportion a little bit, just because maybe the officials missed it in the game.”
Former WNBA player and coach Ty Young also offered a different perspective, stating she did not believe Thomas’s foul was intentional. Young, who has played against Thomas, noted Thomas’s physical playing style but suggested that freezing the video frame makes the contact appear worse than it was in real-time. Young explained, “From what I saw, I don’t feel like it was intentional.”
Thomas’s Physical Play and Background
Thomas is known for her physical style of play, which she has adapted due to ongoing shoulder issues. She plays with torn labrums in both shoulders, which impact her ability to shoot a traditional jump shot. This has led her to rely on driving to the basket and initiating contact in the paint. This tactical shift has helped her become a six-time All-Star, three-time First-Team All-WNBA selection, and an Olympic gold medalist.
Thomas has previously indicated a strong inclination towards combat sports. In a 2019 interview, she mentioned that if she hadn’t pursued basketball professionally, she would have gone pro in either boxing or MMA. Her mother, Tina, shared that Thomas’s parents instilled toughness in her from a young age, never letting her win board games like “Candyland” to teach her to fight in life.
The Mercury’s victory on Wednesday followed a Monday matchup between the two teams that saw Thomas and Clark, along with three other players, receive technical fouls for their involvement in a scuffle during the final frame of the Fever’s 86-77 win.
Clark, who was also sidelined for Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks due to a back injury sustained in the Phoenix game, is currently second in All-Star fan voting behind teammate Aliyah Boston. The All-Star Game is scheduled for July 25 in Chicago.
The league’s decision to suspend Thomas underscores its stance on player safety, particularly in light of the ongoing discussions about physical play in the WNBA. The Indiana Fever will play the Las Vegas Aces on July 5.
Read Also
Source: foxnews.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.