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NewsMacro

WNBA Suspends Alyssa Thomas One Game for Flagrant Foul on Caitlin Clark

The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas one game Thursday, retroactively upgrading her contact with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark to a Flagrant Foul 2 after officials missed the call during Wednesday night's 111-109 Mercury win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The league found Thomas "recklessly" drove her fist into Clark's throat area with 6:52 left in the second quarter — a play the WNBA classified as a non-basketball act. Thomas will serve the suspension June 27 when Phoenix visits the Toronto Tempo.

By Grant HalloranNewsroomJune 25, 20262 min read
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Key takeaways

  • The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas one game and retroactively upgraded her contact with Caitlin Clark to a Flagrant Foul 2 after officials missed the call during Wednesday's game.
  • The league found Thomas recklessly drove her fist into Clark's throat area with 6:52 left in the second quarter, classifying it as a non-basketball act.
  • Thomas will serve her suspension on June 27 when Phoenix visits the Toronto Tempo.
  • The suspension does not affect the standings, as Phoenix had already won the game 111-109 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
  • Caitlin Clark left the game early with a back issue after a separate play and finished with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes.

The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas one game Thursday, retroactively upgrading her contact with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark to a Flagrant Foul 2 after officials missed the call during Wednesday night's 111-109 Mercury win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The league found Thomas "recklessly" drove her fist into Clark's throat area with 6:52 left in the second quarter — a play the WNBA classified as a non-basketball act. Thomas will serve the suspension June 27 when Phoenix visits the Toronto Tempo.

What the League Saw on Film Review

The incident went unpenalized in real time. Clark drove toward the basket and went to the floor during a scramble; Thomas made fist-to-throat contact that referees did not flag. The WNBA moved Thursday to correct that record, noting it retains authority to reclassify any foul — or elevate an uncalled play to a flagrant — after reviewing game film. The one-game suspension paired with the Flagrant 2 designation represents the maximum outcome of that process.

Fever Coach White Had Already Reached a Verdict

Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White did not wait for the league's ruling. After the loss, White called the non-call "absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful," arguing Clark — whom she described as "a generational talent and a WNBA superstar" — absorbed two unpenalized cheap shots in the game. Thursday's action gives White's complaint institutional backing: on the Thomas play, at minimum, the WNBA conceded its referees missed an obvious flagrant foul call.

Clark's Early Exit and the Question That Lingers

Clark left the game with a back issue after landing awkwardly on a separate play — she was fouled by Valeriane Ayayi on a 3-point attempt, officials reviewed the contact, and declined to upgrade it to a flagrant. That ruling was not revisited Thursday. Clark finished with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes before exiting. The Thomas suspension changes nothing in the standings — Phoenix won, 111-109 — but it sharpens the structural question the WNBA cannot easily table: if Clark is the league's biggest draw, the officiating standard applied in real time should not trail the standard applied on film review the following day.

About this story

Filed by the newsroom of MarketPR on June 25, 2026. Source: foxnews.com. Indicative figures are not investment advice.

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Frequently asked

Why was Alyssa Thomas suspended if the foul wasn't called during the game?

The WNBA retains authority to reclassify or elevate uncalled plays to flagrant fouls after reviewing game film, and it used that process to upgrade Thomas's contact to a Flagrant Foul 2.

How did Fever coach Stephanie White react to the play?

White called the non-call 'absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful' and argued that Clark, whom she described as a generational talent and WNBA superstar, absorbed two unpenalized cheap shots in the game.

Did the suspension change the outcome of the game?

No, the suspension changes nothing in the standings because Phoenix had already won the game 111-109.

Why did Caitlin Clark leave the game early?

Clark left with a back issue after landing awkwardly on a separate play where she was fouled by Valeriane Ayayi on a 3-point attempt, a call officials reviewed but declined to upgrade to a flagrant.

When and where will Thomas serve her suspension?

Thomas will serve the one-game suspension on June 27 when the Phoenix Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo.