Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury escaped Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a 111-109 victory over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Thursday. Thomas finished with a game-high 12 field goals made and 24 points, while guard Kahleah Copper scored a team-high 28 points.
Thomas tied Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell for a game-high 38 minutes played, while Mitchell scored a game-high 30 points for Indiana. Although Clark was hot, making 3 of 4 3-point shots, going 6 for 6 from the free-throw line and scoring 19 points, the Mercury gave her a rough night. Starting in the second quarter, after drawing a foul from forward Valériane Ayayi on a 3-point shot, Clark fell and appeared to tweak her back.
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With 6:52 remaining in the second quarter, Clark was driving to the lane and lost her balance. Three Mercury defenders rushed to her, with Thomas getting physical. Right as Clark got rid of the ball, Thomas balled her hands into fists and pushed into Clark's throat area. No foul was called on the play by officials, but the WNBA is allowed to review fouls for reclassification.
On Thursday, the WNBA did just that and decided to punish Thomas. The league levied the six-time All-Star with a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and a one-game suspension for "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark."
"Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas Receives Flagrant Foul 2 Penalty," WNBA Communications wrote on X. "And A One-Game Suspension"
Phoenix will be without Thomas for its next game on the road against the Toronto Tempo at Scotiabank Arena. Tipoff starts at 2:00 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.
