Caitlin Clark was hit in the throat during a WNBA loose ball melee, sparking backlash and game suspension
WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark was hit in the throat during a loose ball melee, sparking outrage and a one-game suspension for Alyssa Thomas. PK Press Club’ Garrett Tenney reports the “absolutely unacceptable” incident and the coach’s reaction. Political analyst Gianno Caldwell discusses Clark’s immense impact on the WNBA’s viewership, including a $2.2 billion deal, and the role of gender and race in the controversy.
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Phoenix Mercury All-Star Alyssa Thomas is the latest villain for Caitlin Clark fans after she punched Clark in the throat during a game Wednesday night.
The referees missed the punch in real time, but the fans and the league office did not.
A viral clip of the slow-motion punch spread across social media, throwing fuel on the ongoing culture war surrounding Clark’s physical treatment by opposing players, which has been a contentious issue 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 “unbasketball” act.
Who is the woman behind the punch?
If Thomas wasn’t in the WNBA, she says she would go pro in combat sports
In a 2019 interview with Nike PLAYlist, Thomas explained what sport she would have gone pro in if she hadn’t gone pro in basketball.
“Either boxing or MMA,” Thomas said.
If Thomas had never turned professional in any sport, she said she would have gone into dentistry.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved going to the dentist. I was just fascinated by teeth and still am. I’m passionate about this whole cleaning process,” according to a profile on WNBA.com.
The first time Thomas stepped on a basketball court, she had a ‘whistling fit’
Thomas was signed up to try basketball for the first time at age five by her mother, Tina, according to the WNBA.
Thomas said she “threw herself down the stairs, into the hallway”, while her mother said: “She just had an absolute hissy fit.”
WNBA suspends ALYSSA THOMAS for ‘recklessly’ hitting CAITLIN CLARK in the throat during scrimmage
Her parents didn’t let her win a popular board game
Thomas’ parents were never easy on her when they played “Candyland” while she was growing up.
“We weren’t the parents that were just going to let you win,” Tina said, according to the WNBA.
“Life is about fighting, and how are you going to fight if you don’t teach your kids to fight? So if she falls, ‘get up, it’s okay,’ and if she doesn’t get up, you know something was wrong.”
This was a parenting tactic also used by New York Yankees legend’s father Derek Jeter, who never let Jeter win at board games or card games when he was growing up, to instill strong competitiveness from a young age.
Thomas added that her mother was particularly tough on her and helped her develop toughness.
“It hasn’t been easy by any means, and it still isn’t easy,” Thomas said.
Thomas plays more physical as shoulder issues hamper his shooting ability
Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas struggles to get up from 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 she absolutely lacks the structural integrity to raise her arms and shoot a traditional, fluid jump shot. Instead, she is forced to use a stiff, one-handed pushing motion from her chest just to get the ball to the rim.
Because she cannot rely on outside shots, Thomas has adapted by relying entirely on her physical frame. She drives straight into the teeth of opposing defenses, absorbing big contacts in the paint to score closer to the basket.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is shown after falling into the lane while Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas watches the ball at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana, June 24, 2026. (Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
This brutal driving style forces him to initiate intense physical collisions on almost every possession.
Despite the mechanical limitations and constant pain, the tactical change worked. She transformed herself into a six-time All-Star, three-time First Team All-WNBA, Olympic gold medalist and undisputed triple-double queen of the WNBA.
Thomas has been the center of immense criticism this week
The punch to Clark’s throat sparked a violent wave of negative reactions.
Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White led the charge, completely lashing out at Thomas and league officials during her postgame press conference.
“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who made two low shots that weren’t followed through,” White said, pointing the finger directly at Thomas’ actions. “Absolutely unacceptable.”
White argued that Thomas regularly crosses the line between playing physical defense and inflicting dangerous, non-basketball-related contact.
“It’s absolutely egregious and totally disrespectful,” White continued to reporters. “The fist in the throat, it’s crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous.”
On Thursday, Fever President Kelly Krauskopf released a statement welcoming the decision to suspend Thomas.
“Player safety should be paramount in our league. We appreciate the WNBA’s review of last night’s incident and the actions taken. At this time, 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 punch would be considered a “hate crime” if the roles were reversed.
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“If it were the other way around, it would be considered a hate crime,” Brewer told PK Press Club Digital.
Other critics expressed their own outrage on social media.
