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League: WNBASport: BasketballCountry: United StatesCategory: Scores & Results

Alyssa Thomas receives suspension for hitting Caitlin Clark during game

Yahoo Sports • 3 min read • Latest: Jun 29, 2026, 10:58 AM

Last updated Jun 29, 2026

Alyssa Thomas receives suspension for hitting Caitlin Clark during game
Summary

Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury has been suspended for one game and fined $1,000 due to a punch thrown at Caitlin Clark during Wednesday's match against the Indiana Fever. The WNBA classified the incident as a 'non-basketball act,' upgrading the infraction to a Flagrant Foul 2 after reviewing the game footage. Comments from former WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike sparked debate, suggesting the league's reaction was based on public perception rather than the act itself. Ogwumike's statements drew considerable backlash, with critics arguing that they failed to address the severity of Thomas's actions. The league's assessment cited reckless conduct that resulted in contact with Clark's throat.

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By the Numbers
  • •Thomas punched Clark in the throat during a game on Wednesday.
  • •The WNBA suspended Thomas and fined her $1,000 for the incident.
  • •Ogwumike suggested the suspension was influenced by optics rather than severity.
  • •The WNBA classified the foul as a Flagrant Foul 2 after a review.
  • •Reactions to Ogwumike's comments highlighted ongoing concerns about player safety.
Latest Updates
  • 1:54 AMYahoo Sports — ‘There’s death threats out on us’: Alyssa Thomas breaks her silence on Caitlin Clark incident
  • 9:39 PMYahoo Sports — Mercury's Thomas says she has received online abuse following suspension for Caitlin Clark incident
  • 9:21 PMYahoo Sports — Alyssa Thomas calls out WNBA, Commissioner following suspension
  • 8:58 PMYahoo Sports — ‘It’s really unacceptable’: Alyssa Thomas responds after suspension for Caitlin Clark incident
  • 3:30 AMYahoo Sports — WNBA Players’ Union Sends 5-Word Message That Speaks Volumes About How Caitlin Clark Is Treated by Her Peers
  • 11:10 AMYahoo Sports — “WNBA Would Be Better Without Caitlin Clark”: Ex-NFLer & Former FOX Analyst Makes Big Claim Amid Outrage Against Alyssa Thomas
  • 10:58 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Stop Gaslighting People ‘ – 2-Time WNBA All-Star Under Fire for Controversial Caitlin Clark-Alyssa Thomas Take
What they're saying
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Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas said she has received death threats and been called racial slurs in the aftermath of her one-game suspension after she made contact with her fist to Caitlin Clark’s throat in last week's matchup against Indiana. Thomas also criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect the league's players when she spoke with reporters on Tuesday at the team's practice facility. Thomas called the play a “complete accident," but said her main concern wasn't the suspension.

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PHOENIX – Alyssa Thomas let her frustrations out by calling out the WNBA and the Commissioner after how they handled her suspension after practice on Thursday. Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) scrambles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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Heading into Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup championship game between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty, the discourse surrounding the WNBA has been dominated by Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and her treatment around the league. Clark was left with a loss to the Phoenix Mercury with a back injury last week, after an…

Related Teams & Leagues
Indiana FeverPhoenix MercuryWNBABasketball

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