WNBA Suspends Alyssa Thomas One Game for Contact With Caitlin Clark

The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game after she made contact with her fist to the throat area of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. The incident occurred during the second quarter of the Mercury's win over the Fever on Wednesday. No foul was called on the play, but the league later assessed Thomas a Flagrant 2 foul.

Thomas will not play in Saturday's game against the Toronto Tempo. Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said the organization supports Thomas fully and questioned the league's process. He stated that no one from the league contacted Thomas, the team's security staff or himself before issuing the suspension.

Fever coach Stephanie White described Thomas' conduct as egregious and said Clark was the target of two cheap shots. Clark left the game with a back injury and has been ruled out indefinitely. The second incident White referenced was a landing-space foul that appeared to affect Clark's back.

White previously coached Thomas with the Connecticut Sun in 2023 and 2024. Tibbetts said the investigation was not thorough and called for consistency in how the league reviews plays regardless of the players involved.