WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas for hitting Caitlin Clark's throat

The Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas has received a flagrant foul penalty and been suspended for one game after hitting Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark in the throat during a game Wednesday night, the WNBA said Thursday. The hit happened with 6 minutes and 52 seconds left in the second quarter of the Fever-Mercury game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Thomas' fist made contact with Clark's throat while the two scrambled for the ball. In the moment, no foul was called by referees, which Fever coach Stephanie White called "egregious" in comments after the game. "The fact that it was a no-call … You got to call it," White said, adding that the lack of a foul in the moment was "absolutely unacceptable." Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas drives to the basket against Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark on June 22, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The WNBA's League Office can review any game and assign a flagrant foul, or reclassify a called foul as a flagrant foul, if they believe such measures are warranted. The WNBA's review "deemed (Thomas) to have committed a non-basketball act" by recklessly making contact with Clark's throat. The WNBA said that Thomas will serve her suspension on June 27, when the Mercury play the Toronto Tempos at home. This isn't the first time the league has upgraded a foul against Clark. …