Alyssa Thomas will miss one game after the WNBA suspended the Phoenix Mercury forward for catching Caitlin Clark in the throat during Wednesday's Fever vs Mercury win.
The league announced the decision Thursday, following a postgame video review of the physical matchup between the two rival teams.
WNBA Upgrades Alyssa Thomas Foul on Caitlin Clark to Flagrant 2
The contact came with just over six minutes left in the second quarter, as both players went after a loose ball. Thomas appeared to push off Clark's neck with a closed fist after the scramble before stepping over her, but the WNBA referees on the floor called no foul.
After reviewing the play, the league upgraded the contact to a Flagrant 2 foul and classified it as a "non-basketball act." As a result, Thomas will sit out Phoenix's Saturday game against the Toronto Tempo.
Phoenix went on to win the game 111-109. Clark, meanwhile, finished with 19 points and eight assists before exiting early in the third quarter with a back injury.
Fever Coach Criticizes WNBA Officials After Clark Injury
The missed call drew sharp criticism from Indiana's leadership. Fever head coach Stephanie White called the lack of a penalty "absolutely unacceptable" and argued that officials hold Clark to a different standard than other players.
Fever president Kelly Krauskopf echoed those concerns, stressing that player safety must remain the league's top priority.
Indiana will next take on the LA Sparks on Saturday at 8 PM ET, before Phoenix travels to Toronto at 2 PM ET. Both WNBA games air live on CBS.
