Overview
- A replay from the Fever’s June 24 home loss to the Phoenix Mercury showed Alyssa Thomas put her fist into Caitlin Clark’s throat during a loose‑ball scramble while Clark was on the floor.
- The WNBA reviewed the play the next day and reclassified it as a Flagrant Foul 2, handing Thomas a one‑game suspension that she will serve in Phoenix’s next outing.
- Clark left the game with an aggravated back issue, was treated as day‑to‑day by the Fever, and the team says it will monitor her closely before clearing her to play.
- Fever coach Stephanie White publicly condemned the missed call and a separate landing‑space incident, and team president Kelly Krauskopf said the league’s action was appreciated and that player safety must come first.
- The episode has intensified scrutiny of officiating consistency, the WNBA’s postgame review authority, and how teams manage the health and protection of high‑profile players going forward.