WNBA Suspends Alyssa Thomas For ‘Recklessly’ Punching Caitlin Clark In The Throat

by Alexander BumbJune 26, 2026, 12:57 pm >

Caitlin Clark was punched in the throat during a heated Indiana Fever–Phoenix Mercury matchup Wednesday night.

Another physical game involving Clark has generated widespread attention across the WNBA after the Fever star took a blow to the throat during Wednesday night’s game against the Phoenix Mercury.

The incident occurred during a loose-ball scramble in the second quarter. Clark fell to the floor while battling for possession. Television replays appeared to show Mercury veteran Alyssa Thomas making contact with Clark’s throat during the sequence. No foul was called on the play, immediately drawing criticism from fans, analysts and the Indiana coaching staff. Videos of the play quickly spread across social media, with many fans arguing Clark had been struck in the neck.

On Thursday, the WNBA suspended Thomas for one game.

Clark, one of the most popular players in the WNBA, was at the center of debate, with some seeing the play as incidental contact and others calling it excessive. The incident dominated conversation for the remainder of the game and into the hours after the final buzzer.

Fever coach Stephanie White did not hide her frustration after the game. She criticized the officials, calling their performance “egregious and utterly disrespectful.”

The controversy came just two days after a heated meeting between the same two teams. That earlier matchup featured multiple technical fouls, confrontations between players and growing attention throughout the contest.

Clark remained in the game after the throat contact but later exited in the third quarter with a back injury and did not return. The Fever said the back issue was caused by the throat incident. Players and coaches pointed to several moments throughout the night as evidence that Clark was repeatedly put in dangerous situations.