Alyssa Thomas will miss Saturday’s Mercury game after being suspended for a Flagrant-2 foul involving Caitlin Clark’s throat. Clark’s back issue will keep her out as well, while Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White argues the foul should have been called in rea
Alyssa Thomas walked away from Wednesday night’s moment with a back injury still looming over the game, and by Thursday the consequences arrived with a new headline: a Flagrant-2 upgrade, a one-game suspension, and a $1,000 fine.
On Saturday, the Phoenix Mercury forward won’t be on the floor. The Mercury also faces another absence at the top of the matchup—Caitlin Clark.
Clark will be out for Saturday’s game vs. the LA Indiana Fever. Fever coach Stephanie White provided a Caitlin Clark injury update after the star guard left Wednesday’s game early with a back issue. The Mercury’s matchup against the Toronto Tempo is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET, airing on CBS.
Thomas’s suspension is tied to what happened earlier in the week. On June 24, she was penalized after a fist to Clark’s throat, resulting in a one-game suspension. On Wednesday, the incident unfolded midway through the second quarter. Clark went to the floor and lost control of the ball while being defended by Lexi Held.
During a scramble for the basketball, Thomas landed on Clark and pushed her fist into Clark’s throat. A foul was not called at the time. Afterward, the WNBA suspended Thomas for one game on Thursday and upgraded the non-call to a Flagrant-2 foul. Thomas was also fined $1,000.
The league window for the return is already set. The 34-year-old can return to play on July 2, when Phoenix hosts Seattle at 10:00 p.m. ET on League Pass.
Support has poured in for Thomas from inside the organization and from teammates throughout the week. DeWanna Bonner, Thomas’s wife, posted on her Instagram story a message with the couple’s photo: “Forever got your front and your back!! We love you!!”
Several Phoenix coaches also spoke publicly. Tangela Smith—described as a two-time WNBA champion and assistant—said. “We know the person you are. the heart you have. and everything you bring to this team every single day. ” adding. “We stand with you. we believe in you. and we’ll be right here beside you every step of the way.”.
While emotions run high around Thomas and Clark, the disagreement about the calls is harder and louder. The flagrant foul and suspension are unfolding as the WNBA continues a league-wide effort to improve and make officiating more consistent. White, who coaches Indiana, said the foul on Clark should have been called during the game.
“I think the biggest thing for me is that we have to see it in real time,” White said. “Yes, I’m thankful that the league went back and used their ability to go back and review it, but these are things that we can’t miss in real time. We’ve got to be better.”
In practice. the scheduling and the stakes are straightforward: Saturday’s Phoenix game will be played without Clark and without Thomas. For Thomas, the league has already set the next step back on July 2. For White. the next step is a demand—made in real time on the sideline—that the rules be applied the first time. not after the play has ended.
Caitlin Clark Alyssa Thomas Mercury Indiana Fever Flagrant-2 WNBA suspension officiating DeWanna Bonner Stephanie White Toronto Tempo
Flagrant-2 sounds crazy, like refs can’t even see what’s going on half the time.
So Clark got a back issue AND Thomas got suspended, that’s just brutal timing for the Fever. Also $1,000 fine? seems low for a throat thing but whatever.
I’m confused how they say “foul wasn’t called” then suddenly it’s a Flagrant-2 upgrade. Like was it reviewed later and decided she was aiming for the throat or what? Either way, Lexi Held wasn’t even the one punching, so idk why I keep seeing people blame everybody.
Back injury keeping Clark out is probably the bigger story, not even the suspension. If she’s already dealing with it then one bad landing turns into season drama. I swear the league just picks one headline and rolls with it, like Mercury vs Indiana is always messy.