Alyssa Thomas suspended for one game after fist to Caitlin Clark’s throat sparks controversy

During a June 24 WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas punched Fever star Caitlin Clark in the throat during a loose‑ball scramble. The league retroactively issued a flagrant‑2 foul and handed Thomas a one‑game suspension, labeling the act a “recklessly made non‑basketball act.”

The incident prompted strong reactions. Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts defended Thomas, decrying the league’s investigation as “not a thorough investigation” and insisting he is “100 % supported by us.” Fever coach Stephanie White called the play “egregious” and a “cheap shot,” while former player Lisa Leslie criticised the missed call and called for better officiating. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley and other public figures also voiced concern over Clark’s treatment.

Clark subsequently sat out the Fever’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks, citing a back injury sustained in the altercation. The team’s schedule gave her a week’s rest before the next matchup against the Las Vegas Aces.

The broader fallout included a viral meme of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s silent stare‑down with Phoenix’s DeWanna Bonner, which spread across social media platforms. Cunningham later described the moment as “dumb” but acknowledged its meme appeal.