Caitlin Clark takes hard foul from Alyssa Thomas during Fever-Mercury game
Yahoo Sports • 2 min read • Latest: Jun 25, 2026, 1:35 AM
Last updated Jun 25, 2026
In a WNBA matchup on June 24, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever endured a controversial foul from Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Thomas’s actions, including pressing her fist against Clark’s neck, went unpenalized by referees, sparking significant backlash from fans regarding officiating standards. This incident escalates ongoing tensions between the two teams following a prior game that resulted in multiple technical fouls. After Monday's contest, which ended in an 86-77 victory for the Fever, Clark expressed frustration over her latest technical foul for clapping. The incident raises concerns around player safety and the accountability of officiating in the league.
- •Caitlin Clark faces a hard foul from Alyssa Thomas in WNBA game.
- •The incident occurred during the Fever vs. Mercury matchup in Indianapolis.
- •Referees did not call the foul, igniting fan outrage over officiating.
- •Tensions were high between the teams after a previous game with technical fouls.
- •Clark scored a game-high 24 points in Indiana's win over Phoenix.
- 11:30 PMYahoo Sports — DeWanna Bonner and Mercury Teammates Rally Behind Alyssa Thomas After One Game Suspension Over Caitlin Clark Incident
- 9:37 PMYahoo Sports — ‘They are definitely targeting her’: Caitlin Clark’s teammate does not hold back on WNBA and referees
- 5:52 AMYahoo Sports — WNBA’s Alyssa Thomas suspended after putting fist to Caitlin Clark’s throat
- 12:49 AMYahoo Sports — WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas for hitting Caitlin Clark's throat
- 7:37 PMYahoo Sports — WNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas amid Caitlin Clark ‘throat punch’ controversy
- 7:37 PMYahoo Sports — WNBA officially rules on Alyssa Thomas’s controversial foul on Caitlin Clark
- 1:35 AMYahoo Sports — WNBA fans in uproar after Caitlin Clark takes Alyssa Thomas’ fist to throat in Fever-Mercury game
"Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was suspended for one game after the WNBA deemed that she “committed a non-basketball act” against Clark by “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area.” Now, one of Clark’s teammates is speaking out against the act. During a recent interview, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham called out the…
"The Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury matchups were filled with controversies and intense moments, featuring Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner. The latest moment came in the second quarter of the second consecutive game between the two teams on Wednesday, when Alyssa Thomas got Clark’s neck under her fist.
"The WNBA referees have missed a pretty bad foul from Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas on Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark on Wednesday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. During the first half of their latest matchup, Thomas got away with pressing…
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 27, 2026, 11:30 PMDeWanna Bonner and Mercury Teammates Rally Behind Alyssa Thomas After One Game Suspension Over Caitlin Clark Incident
The Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury matchups were filled with controversies and intense moments, featuring Caitlin Clark and DeWanna Bonner. The latest moment came in the second quarter of the second consecutive game between the two teams on Wednesday, when Alyssa Thomas got Clark’s neck under her fist.
- Yahoo SportsJun 27, 2026, 9:37 PM‘They are definitely targeting her’: Caitlin Clark’s teammate does not hold back on WNBA and referees
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was suspended for one game after the WNBA deemed that she “committed a non-basketball act” against Clark by “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area.” Now, one of Clark’s teammates is speaking out against the act. During a recent interview, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham called out the…
- Yahoo SportsJun 26, 2026, 5:52 AMWNBA’s Alyssa Thomas suspended after putting fist to Caitlin Clark’s throat
WNBA star Alyssa Thomas receives a massive punishment for a controversial moment against Caitlin Clark. The Indiana Fever recently locked horns with the Phoenix Mercury in a high-intensity WNBA game.
- Yahoo SportsJun 26, 2026, 12:49 AMWNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas for hitting Caitlin Clark's throat
No foul was initially called after Alyssa Thomas' fist made contact with Caitlin Clark's throat during a game between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever on Wednesday.
- Yahoo SportsJun 25, 2026, 7:37 PMWNBA suspends Alyssa Thomas amid Caitlin Clark ‘throat punch’ controversy
The WNBA has responded to the backlash from a Wednesday night incident between Phoenix Mercury veteran Alyssa Thomas and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark. Thomas and Clark tangled it up on the court, with Thomas pushing her closed fist into…
- Yahoo SportsJun 25, 2026, 7:37 PMWNBA officially rules on Alyssa Thomas’s controversial foul on Caitlin Clark
On Wednesday night, the Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White admonished officials for not blowing the whistle on a “cheap shot” by Alyssa Thomas on Caitlin Clark. One day later, the WNBA has officially suspended Thomas.
- Yahoo SportsJun 25, 2026, 1:35 AMWNBA fans in uproar after Caitlin Clark takes Alyssa Thomas’ fist to throat in Fever-Mercury game
The WNBA referees have missed a pretty bad foul from Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas on Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark on Wednesday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. During the first half of their latest matchup, Thomas got away with pressing…
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