Caitlin Clark’s throat punch sparks suspension, criticism and deleted Mercury meme

During a June game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas struck Fever star Caitlin Clark in the throat with a closed fist. No foul was called on the play, but the WNBA later upgraded it to a Flagrant Foul 2, fined Thomas $1,000 and issued a one‑game suspension.

Clark left the game with a back injury and missed the next matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks. Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham said the league and referees were “targeting” Clark, criticizing the lack of protection and calling the incident “egregious.” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts voiced “disappointment” with the league’s investigation, saying the process was not thorough.

The Mercury also removed a stick‑figure social‑media post that fans believed mocked Clark after the incident. The controversy prompted commentary from analysts—including Seerat Sohi, who called Clark a “magnifying glass” for broader league issues—and former NFL players such as Patrick Peterson, who urged Clark to respond with her play.

The series of on‑court violence, disciplinary action, player backlash and the meme deletion has dominated WNBA coverage this week.