WNBA Player Suspended After Throat Contact

A Phoenix Mercury forward was suspended for one game after officials reviewed video and classified contact to an opposing player’s throat as a flagrant foul 2. The incident occurred in the second quarter of a game last Wednesday and drew no whistle from on-court officials at the time.

The league issued the suspension on social media roughly ten minutes before the player learned of it. She served the suspension on Saturday during a road game against another team.

The suspended player told reporters Tuesday that she had received death threats and racial slurs in the days after the play. She described the contact as a “complete accident” that neither team recognized during the game. She said the volume of threats and leaked personal information exceeded normal online criticism.

The player also noted that similar physical plays in other games had not prompted comparable public reaction.

““It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this over basketball. A lot of us – myself included – didn’t even know the play took place until after the game. Now we’re being painted as thugs. The statement said the threats were “completely unacceptable and not representative of the WNBA community.” The suspended player said she had not received any direct communication from the commissioner and called the continued silence disappointing given the nature of the threats.”

The two teams had met a few days earlier, when six technical fouls and one ejection were issued. The opposing team later asked the league to rescind one technical foul but was told it would stand. The teams are scheduled to play again on 9 July. The league has authority to review any game and reclassify or add flagrant fouls after the fact.