We're coming up on a week-and-a-half since the WNBA incident where Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas pushed Caitlin Clark's neck while she was on the ground. In the aftermath, Thomas reportedly received no small amount of hateful and threatening messages on social media.
On Friday, Clark spoke to the media addressing the incident with Thomas from last week. She asserted that what Thomas was a flagrant foul and should have been called such on the court rather than by review after the game. Clark said that the referees need to be better and do a better job of protecting players.
"I did think it was a flagrant foul. Our reffing just needs to be better... The league has to do better protecting our players," Clark said.
As for the hate and harassment of Thomas, Clark made it clear that she did not appreciate it.
"The harassment, the hate -- none of that is ok," she said.
Face of the League
WNBA fans praised Clark for how she responded to the questions and handled the situation in general.
"I appreciate hearing from Caitlin. This is probably the most vulnerable I've seen her, and, of course, we have seen some other vulnerable moments this season--but she really put her thoughts and feelings out there here. Respect," one user wrote on X.
"This is why she is the FACE of the league," another declared.
"She's always has to be the only grown-up in every scenario. Caitlin is the epitome of 'when they go low, we go high.' She's a great role model to all her young fans and kids everywhere. Keep Rising Caitlin," wrote a third.
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The WNBA suspended Alyssa Thomas for one game after reviewing the incident from the Mercury-Fever game. The league upgraded the play to a Flagrant Foul 2, ruling that Thomas had "recklessly made contact with her fist to the throat area" of Caitlin Clark during a loose-ball scramble in the second quarter.
The incident sparked widespread debate because it came during an already physical stretch of games involving the Fever and because Fever head coach Stephanie White sharply criticized the officiating, calling the no-call "egregious" and "utterly disrespectful." The suspension fueled further discussion about player safety, the league's handling of physical play involving Clark, and whether officials should have ejected Thomas during the game itself.
