WNBA Fans Calling For Mercury Coach To Be Suspended For Caitlin Clark Jab

The Phoenix Mercury aren't exactly interested in settling their differences with Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.

During the Mercury-Fever game on Wednesday, veteran forward Alyssa Thomas was caught shoving her fist into Clark's throat. Fever coach Stephanie White was understandably frustrated by this play, especially since no foul was called.

“Absolutely disrespectful. We spent all offseason looking at officiating, and I still say the one thing that we keep asking for is consistency,” White said. “[Clark] is not called the same way as everybody else is called. The fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous. … When you have these things continue to happen time and time and time again, eventually it gets frustrating.”

The WNBA reviewed this incident on Thursday and suspended Thomas for this Saturday’s game against the Toronto Tempo.

“Upon postgame review, the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas has received 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,” the league said. “Per WNBA rule, the League Office has the option, following its review of any game, to reclassify a Flagrant foul or to classify as Flagrant any foul not called as such during a game and may impose a fine and/or suspension.”

Clearly, the Mercury disagree with the WNBA's decision. The team's associate head coach, Kristi Toliver, posted a photo of Thomas along with the caption: "When they go low, we go high."

Mercury forward Natasha Mack, meanwhile, went on Threads and had this to say: "It’s FREE AT until AT FREE."

Fans fire back at the Mercury.

It didn't take long for fans to respond to Toliver's post. Most of them believe the league should step in and discipline the Mercury's staff.

"Is this what @KristiToliver meant when she posted this? For @athomas_25 to go for the throat aka high?? Both should be indefinitely suspended," one fan said.

"Sick delusional people are at all levels in the WNBA," a second fan declared.

"The WNBA needs to suspend Natasha Mack and Associate Head Coach Kristi Toliver immediately," another fan wrote.

"Suspend Thomas for the rest of the season," a social media user commented.

The Fever and Mercury are set to meet again on July 9. It's unclear if Clark will be ready to play in that game since she's now sidelined with a back injury.