The WNBA said Thomas was being disciplined for “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.”
Following Wednesday night’s game, Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas has been suspended for one game for putting a fist to Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark’s throat.
The WNBA announced the one-game suspension on Thursday afternoon, saying Thomas was being disciplined for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark." Thomas also received a Flagrant 2 penalty. The suspension will be served on Saturday during the Mercury-Toronto Tempo game.
https://twitter.com/WNBAComms/status/2070220803262607450?s=20
With around seven minutes left in the second period, Clark stumbled to the ground in the lane after receiving some contact with Mercury’s defender Lexi Held. Held, DeWanna Bonner, and Alyssa Thomas collapsed on Clark while in pursuit of the ball, with Thomas appearing to push her fist into Clark’s neck, getting up, and stepping over her.
https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/2070000282155532640?s=20
Clark ultimately left the game in the third quarter due to an issue with her back. She finished the game with 19 points and eight assists. Mercury won Wendesday night's game 111-109.
Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White said after the game, "We have a generational talent and WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots [against her] right there that weren't called." She called it "Absolutely unacceptable." She said it was "absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful" that referees did not issue a foul during the game.
Social media users called out the suspension, saying it was far too short for the action. NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich wrote, "She should be suspended for the rest of the season."
https://twitter.com/KatiePavlich/status/2070232799370441102?s=20
Commentator Gina Milan wrote, "Suspended for one game? LOL. What an absolute disgrace the WNBA is."
https://twitter.com/ginamilan_/status/2070227416249749719?s=20
User Kentucky Girl wrote, "That’s it- a 1 game suspension? You can throat punch a white girl and all you get is a 1 day suspension? The WNBA sucks. No wonder no one watches it."
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