Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas has received a one-game suspension and a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty following an incident involving Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. The league announced the disciplinary action on Thursday, citing Thomas for “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area” of Clark during Wednesday night’s game. The incident was classified as a “non-basketball act” by the league.
The contact occurred approximately halfway through the second quarter of the game, which the Fever won 111-109. Clark was on the court after pursuing a loose ball when Thomas appeared to push off Clark’s throat area as she rose. Officials did not call a foul on the play at the time, nor was the incident reviewed during the game. Fever coach Stephanie White stated that officials informed her at halftime they had not seen the play.
White expressed strong disapproval of the officiating after the game, calling the lack of a call on Thomas’s action “absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful.” She also described the overall treatment of Clark as “absolutely unacceptable,” particularly given the physical nature of recent matchups between the two teams. White highlighted that Clark, a “generational talent and a WNBA superstar,” was subjected to what she termed “two cheap shots” that went uncalled.
Later in Wednesday’s contest, Clark was fouled by Valeriane Ayayi during a 3-point attempt. Although officials reviewed this play, it was not upgraded to a flagrant foul. Clark subsequently grabbed at her back and eventually left the game, not returning to play. She concluded the game with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes before her exit.
The WNBA‘s decision to suspend Thomas and issue a Flagrant Foul 2 came after a postgame review of the incident. Thomas is scheduled to serve her one-game suspension on Saturday when the Mercury face the Toronto Tempo.
Team Reactions and Social Media Scrutiny
In response to the league’s disciplinary action, Indiana Fever team president Kelly Krauskopf issued a statement. Krauskopf emphasized the importance of player safety, stating, “Player safety should be paramount in our league.” She added, “We appreciate the WNBA’s review of last night’s incident and the action taken. Right now, our focus is on Caitlin and our entire team as we prepare for Saturday.” The Fever are set to host the Los Angeles Sparks in a primetime matchup on Saturday.
Adding another layer to the controversy, the Phoenix Mercury‘s official social media account reportedly posted a meme after their win over the Fever that appeared to mock Clark. Screenshots circulating on social media platform X showed a cartoon player lying on the floor with the caption, “DE-WANNA PIECE OF THIS?!?”. This post seemed to be a play on the name of DeWanna Bonner, a former Fever player now with the Mercury.
The timing of this alleged post drew significant attention, particularly as it followed the physical interaction between Thomas and Clark. The post was later removed from the Mercury‘s account, suggesting an internal decision was made to delete it. Queries sent to the Mercury, the WNBA, and the Fever regarding the authenticity, approval, and deletion of the post, as well as broader concerns about player safety and officiating, did not receive responses by the stated deadlines.
The league’s announcement regarding Thomas’s discipline did not address the alleged social media post from the Mercury. The incident has raised questions about team conduct on social media, especially when it appears to mock a player who was involved in an action later deemed worthy of a suspension and flagrant foul.
Ongoing Tensions Between Teams
Wednesday’s game was not an isolated incident but rather the second consecutive physical matchup between the Fever and the Mercury. Just two days prior, in a game where the Fever secured an 86-77 victory, officials issued six technical fouls to five players. These included Clark, Thomas, and Bonner. Additionally, Fever forward Myisha Hines-Allen was ejected after receiving her second technical foul in that game.
The tensions between the two teams have been building, creating a notable storyline in the league. The connection of DeWanna Bonner to both teams further intensifies this dynamic. Clark’s presence continues to draw significant attention to the league, leading to increased scrutiny of such incidents. The league’s decision not to rescind a technical foul given to Clark in Monday’s game means she now has five technical fouls for the season, placing her three away from an automatic one-game suspension.
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Source: foxnews.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.