The WNBA has issued a one-game suspension to Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas following an incident involving Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. The contact, which occurred during Wednesday night’s game between the Mercury and the Fever, involved Thomas making contact with Clark’s throat with her fist.
The incident took place with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter. Officials on the court did not call a foul at the time, but the league later reviewed the play. The WNBA has the authority to reclassify flagrant fouls or to classify as flagrant any foul not initially called during a game.
Following the review, the league deemed Thomas’s action a non-basketball act and assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty. Thomas is scheduled to serve her suspension on Saturday when the Mercury are set to visit the Toronto Tempo.
Fever’s Reaction and Player Safety Concerns
Fever coach Stephanie White expressed strong disapproval of the incident and the lack of an initial call. White stated that the contact was egregious and should have been called, especially given recent events.
The Fever organization reiterated its call for player safety in a statement released on Thursday. Fever team president Kelly Krauskopf emphasized that player safety should be paramount in the league.
Krauskopf also acknowledged the league’s review and the action taken, stating that the team’s immediate focus is on Clark and the entire team as they prepare for their upcoming game. The Fever are scheduled to host Los Angeles on Saturday night.
This is not the first instance where the league has upgraded a foul against Clark. In the previous season, Marina Mabrey, then with Connecticut, received a technical foul in a game against Indiana, which was later upgraded to a Flagrant 2 by the league. Similar instances of upgraded plays leading to suspensions have occurred in the NBA over the years.
The physical nature of play was also evident in a prior game between the two teams on Monday night, which saw six technical fouls called and one ejection. Clark herself received her fifth technical foul of the season in that game. The team’s petition to have that technical rescinded was denied by the WNBA, which confirmed that the technical would stand.
Clark’s Injury and NFL Player’s Advice
Clark left Wednesday’s game in the third quarter due to a back issue. She appeared to tweak her back earlier in the second quarter after being fouled while attempting a 3-pointer. She was seen rubbing her back after falling to the ground. In the first quarter, she had briefly gone to the tunnel before returning to the bench with a wrap around her back.
Despite the injury, Clark finished the game with 19 points and eight assists in 20 minutes of play. The Mercury ultimately won the game against the Fever with a score of 111-109.
Former NFL player Patrick Peterson offered advice to Clark regarding the incident. Peterson, who played in the NFL for 13 seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl eight times, suggested that Clark should respond to such incidents by dominating her opponents on the court.
Peterson emphasized that his mentality during his playing career was to let his performance speak for itself, as physical altercations are not permitted in professional sports. He believes that the most effective way to silence opponents is through superior play.
While acknowledging that Clark’s teammates might feel motivated to defend her, Peterson cautioned that such actions could lead to detrimental outcomes, referencing Thomas’s suspension and the financial implications for players. Peterson spent his first 10 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, followed by two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, and his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing from 2011-2023.
Upcoming Events for Peterson
Peterson is also preparing for the American Century Championship, a golf event scheduled from July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe. He mentioned that his family enjoys attending this event annually.
He has been utilizing an artificial intelligence-powered app called Performance Golf to enhance his golf game. This app provides an AI coach that analyzes video of a player’s swing and offers feedback to help improve performance.
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Source: apnews.com
