EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPhoenix Mercury forward 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, the WNBA announced Thursday.The incident, in which the league said Thomas "committed a non-basketball act," happened with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter of the Mercury's 111-109 win over the Fever on Wednesday.After Clark drove to the lane, she tumbled onto her side after making contact with defender Lexi Held. Held, Thomas and DeWanna Bonner collapsed onto Clark as they scrambled for the ball. As they tried to recover it, Thomas appeared to thrust her fist into Clark's neck. She then got up and stepped over Clark.No foul was called on the play.Fever coach Stephanie White told reporters that the game officials said they did not see what Thomas did."It's absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful," White said.However, per league rules, the league office has the option to reclassify a flagrant foul or to upgrade any non-call to a flagrant following its review of the game. The rule also allows the league office to impose a fine or suspension if needed."We spent all offseason looking at officiating, and I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency," White said after the game on Wednesday. "[Clark] is not called the same way as everybody else is called. The fist in the throat is crazy. It's crazy. It's dangerous. ... When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating."Clark eventually left the game with 5:51 left in the third quarter and did not return due to a back issue. White said she didn't know if it was the play with Thomas or another one that happened seconds later that led to Clark tweaking her back.With 6:25 left in the second period Phoenix defender Valeriane Ayayi closed out on Clark's 3-point attempt and Clark landed on Ayayi's foot. A foul was called, but it was not upgraded as a reckless closeout following a review in real-time."We have a generational talent and WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots [against her] right there that weren't called," White said. "Absolutely unacceptable."Thomas will serve her suspension on June 27 when the Mercury visit the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA said. This is the first time in Thomas' 13-year career that she will serve a suspension. In the WNBA, a player receives an automatic one-game suspension upon accumulating four total flagrant points.
