The WNBA has suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game [1] following an incident involving Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.
This disciplinary action highlights the league's willingness to retroactively penalize physical play that officials miss during live game action. By upgrading a non-call to a high-level foul, the league signals a strict stance on player safety and reckless contact.
The incident occurred June 24, 2024, during a game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever [3]. According to league reports, Thomas made contact with her fist to Clark’s throat [1]. While officials did not call a foul during the live sequence, the league later reviewed the footage and deemed the contact reckless [5].
As a result of the review, the WNBA upgraded the non-call to a Flagrant-2 foul [2]. This specific classification is reserved for unnecessary and excessive contact. The league subsequently imposed a one-game suspension [1] to address the violation.
Thomas is the first player in this specific matchup to face such a penalty for contact with Clark. The decision to issue a suspension after the game concludes serves as a corrective measure when on-court officiating fails to capture the severity of a hit [5].
The Phoenix Mercury will be without Thomas for her next scheduled appearance. The Indiana Fever have not issued a formal statement regarding the suspension, but the league's decision confirms the contact was deemed a violation of standard playing rules [2].
“The league upgraded the non-call to a Flagrant-2 foul and suspended Thomas for one game.”
The retroactive upgrade to a Flagrant-2 foul demonstrates the WNBA's commitment to monitoring player safety through post-game review. By suspending Alyssa Thomas for a play that went uncalled in real-time, the league is establishing a precedent that reckless physical contact, especially to sensitive areas like the throat, will be penalized regardless of the initial officiating outcome.
