Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark had a rather unfortunate day on Wednesday during the team's game against the Phoenix Mercury.
Clark left the contest in the third quarter due to a back injury. She played just 20 minutes, recording 19 points and eight assists. While it has yet to be confirmed when she sustained her injury, it should be noted that the All-Star guard appeared to tweak her back in the second quarter after falling when Valeriane Ayayi didn't give her adequate space to land.
During the first half as well, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was seen hitting Clark in the throat after the Fever star fell to the floor while attacking the basket. Thomas was also seen making contact with Clark's groin area with her knee, as well as stepping over her.
Ayayi's foul was not upgraded to a flagrant foul despite the danger it posed, while Thomas was not called for a foul despite her physical play against Clark.
David Gonzales-Imagn Images
After seeing what happened to Clark, former WNBA player and one-time All-Star Stacey Dales couldn't help but express disappointment. The former Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky player also called out the league and urged the top officials to review the play.
Dales called Thomas' actions pathetic and "completely uncalled for."
"This is pathetic — not even loose ball worthy. League needs to review this. Completely uncalled for. And of course, they got what they wanted - Clark out for the game (back)," Dales wrote on X.
She added about Thomas' hit, "Watch the ball go in the opposite direction. And knee to the groin. This is a boxing ring apparently."
It remains to be seen if the WNBA will review the play, but the Fever are clearly not happy with the physicality and the lack of calls on Clark.
Fever head coach Stephanie White went off on her postgame presser, while also calling Thomas' hit on Clark "dangerous."
"It was egregious, the fact that it was a no-call. I heard about it at halftime, I brought it to the attention of the officials," White shared, per Chloe Peterson of the Indianapolis Star. "You gotta call it. It's absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful."
