Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas suspended after dropping fist on Caitlin Clark's neck
After a 2025 season derailed by injury, Caitlin Clark was roughed up once again on Wednesday night, leaving the game with a back injury after taking a fist to the throat earlier in the game.
During the first half, Clark stumbled to the ground while driving to the basket, while the Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas appeared to land on top of her.
Video appears to show Thomas driving a fist into Clark's neck before Thomas lifts herself from the scuffle and carries on play. No foul was called on the play.
"Upon postgame review, the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas has received a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and a one-game suspension for recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark," a WNBA release announced on Thursday.
According to the release, Thomas will serve her suspension on June 27.
A separate physical play involving Clark resulted in the star player on her back after landing awkwardly after a jump shot. That instance resulted in a foul call, according to ESPN.
Clark would ultimately leave the game in the third quarter with what appeared to be a back issue, according to an ESPN game report and The Indianapolis Star.
After the game, Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White sounded off on her displeasure with the officiating, something she identified as an ongoing issue.
"I mean the fist in the throat is crazy, it's crazy, it's dangerous" White said in a press conference after the game, where she highlighted both plays.
She called the officiating against Clark "absolutely unacceptable."
"We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren't called, and i just say again, absolutely unacceptable," she said.
White said she did not have an update on Clark's health, according to The Indianapolis Star.
Asked about Clark's health, White said, "I think we got to be careful, you know, it's a long season, we got to make sure that she's healthy."
Clark is averaging around 21 points and around 8 assists per game this season and logged 19 points and 8 assists in Wednesday's game.
ABC News has reached out to the Fever and Mercury for comment.
