Phoenix WNBA team posts meme mocking Caitlin Clark after she gets fist to throat, deletes it after backlash

The official account of the Mercury posted a drawing of a Fever player on the floor in pain, saying "De-wanna piece of this?!?" Clark, who routinely trash-talks on the court when provoked, had to sit out the second half of the game due to a back issue. Screenshots of the post circulated even after the Mercury had deleted it. The Mercury won their game against the Fever.

https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/2070249500036280459?s=46

The post was also a play on the name of Mercury player DeWanna Bonner who played with the Fever for a stretch last season. Thomas was hit with a Flagrant 2 penalty and was was 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. She'll have to sit out during the Mercury-Toronto Tempo game on Saturday.

https://twitter.com/WNBAComms/status/2070220803262607450?s=20

The incident occured with about seven minutes left in the second period. Clark hit the floor after contact with Mercury defender Lexi Held, who then, along with Bonner, and Thomas collapsed ontop of Clark aiming to get the ball. Thomas pushed her fist into Clark’s neck before getting off of her and stepping over her.

https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/2070000282155532640?s=20

Clark had 19 points and eight assists but the Mercury won 111-109.

"We have a generational talent and WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots [against her] right there that weren't called," said Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White after the game. She went on to say that it was "absolutely unacceptable" and "absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful" that referees did not issue a foul during the game.

Outkick noted that while "many professional sports teams, across all leagues, have adopted a more confrontational style on social media," the now-deleted post seemed to cross a line "that shouldn't be crossed. If the Mercury's post meant what it appeared to mean, the official team account could be read as mocking Clark after she took contact the league later deemed worthy of a Flagrant Foul 2 and suspension."