Caitlin Clark was hit in the throat during a WNBA fumble fight, leading to backlash and a suspension from the game.
WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark was hit in the throat during a fumble fight, sparking outrage and a one-game suspension for Alyssa Thomas. Pak Gazette’ Garrett Tenney reports on the “absolutely unacceptable” incident and the coach’s reaction. Political analyst Gianno Caldwell discusses Clark’s immense impact on WNBA viewership, including a $2.2 billion deal, and the role of gender and race in the controversy.
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Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas is the latest villain for Caitlin Clark fans after punching Clark in the throat during a game Wednesday night.
The referees called the hit in real time, but the fans and the league office did not.
A viral clip of the slow-motion hit spread across social media, adding fuel to the ongoing culture war surrounding Clark’s physical treatment by opposing players, which has been a controversial topic dating back to Clark’s rookie season in 2024.
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And less than 24 hours after the incident, the WNBA handed Thomas a one-game suspension for what was deemed a “reckless” and “non-basketball” act.
Who is the woman behind the punch?
If Thomas wasn’t in the WNBA, she says she would turn professional in combat sports.
In a 2019 interview with Nike PLAYlist, Thomas answered which sport he would have turned pro in if he wasn’t a pro in basketball.
“Either boxing or MMA,” Thomas said.
If Thomas had never gone pro in any sport, he said he would have gone into dentistry.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I loved going to the dentist. I was fascinated with teeth and still am. I’m passionate about that whole cleaning process,” according to a profile on WNBA.com.
The first time Thomas stepped on a basketball court, he had a ‘fit of rage’
Thomas was signed up to try basketball for the first time at the age of five by her mother, Tina, according to the WNBA.
Thomas said he “threw me down the stairs, down the hallway,” while his mother said, “He just had an absolute fit.”
WNBA SUSPENDS ALYSSA THOMAS FOR ‘RECKLESSLY’ HITTING CAITLIN CLARK IN THE THROAT DURING FIGHT
Her parents wouldn’t let her win a popular board game.
Thomas’ parents never took it easy when they played “Candyland” while she was growing up.
“We weren’t the parents that would just let you win,” Tina said, according to the WNBA.
“In life, you have to fight, and how are you going to fight if you don’t teach your kids to fight? So if she falls down, ‘get up, you’re fine,’ and if she doesn’t get up, you know something’s wrong.”
It was a parenting tactic also used by New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter’s father, who never let Jeter win at board or card games as a child, to instill tough competitiveness at a young age.
Thomas added that her mother was especially hard on her and helped her develop toughness.
“It was by no means easy, and it still isn’t,” Thomas said.
Thomas plays more physically because shoulder problems hinder his shooting ability.
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas fights to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 24, 2026. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 111-109. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Thomas currently plays basketball with torn labrums in both shoulders.
The injuries are so severe that he completely lacks the structural integrity to lift his arms and perform a traditional, fluid jump shot. Instead, she is forced to use a rigid one-handed pushing motion from her chest just to get the ball to the hoop.
Since he can’t rely on shots from outside, Thomas adapted by relying entirely on his physical structure. He heads right into the teeth of opposing defenses, absorbing heavy contact in the paint to score closer to the basket.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is shown after falling in the lane as Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas watches the ball at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 24, 2026. (Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
That brutal driving style requires him to initiate intense physical collisions on almost every possession.
Despite the mechanical limitations and constant pain, the tactical change worked. She became a six-time All-Star, three-time All-WNBA First Team, Olympic gold medalist and undisputed queen of the WNBA triple-double.
Thomas has been the center of immense criticism this week.
The punch to Clark’s throat caused a fierce wave of reaction.
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White led the charge, fully unloading on Thomas and league officials during her post-game press conference.
“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots that weren’t called,” White said, pointing directly to Thomas’ actions. “Absolutely unacceptable.”
White argued that Thomas regularly crosses the line from playing physical defense to inflicting dangerous contact that is not basketball related.
“It’s absolutely atrocious and absolutely disrespectful,” White continued, fuming at reporters. “The fist to the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous.”
On Thursday, Fever president Kelly Krauskopf issued a statement praising the decision to suspend Thomas.
“Player safety must be paramount in our league. We appreciate the WNBA’s review of last night’s incident and the actions taken. Right now our focus is on Caitlin and our entire team as we prepare for Saturday,” Krauskopf wrote.
Former Minnesota Vikings captain and prominent conservative activist Jack Brewer said the hit would be considered a “hate crime” if the roles were reversed.
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“This would be considered a hate crime if it were the other way around,” Brewer told Pak Gazette Digital.
Other critics have expressed their own outrage on social media.
