Despite currently being injured, the conversation around Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas has not gone away, and Clark has revealed her thought process on the aftermath of the hard foul that has dominated headlines.

While Clark agreed with the assessment of the play itself, which was a flagrant foul, she also pointed out the broader issue of the long-running WNBA officiating and player safety.

“I did think it was a flagrant foul,” Clark said of the incident with Thomas. “I think overall the league just has to do better … protecting the people in this league.”

The play in question is the infamous scuffle between Clark and Thomas on June 24. Both players were involved in a loose-ball play in which Thomas' fist made contact with Clark's throat.

Although officials did not assess a flagrant foul in real time, the WNBA reviewed the play afterward, upgraded it to a Flagrant Foul 2 and suspended the Mercury forward for one game.

However, the incident went viral on social media, and unfortunately, Thomas received a ton of personal attacks and harassment.

“The harassment, the hate, none of that is okay,” Clark said.

“That goes for the opposing team we play. That goes for my teammates, that goes for my coaches. There should never be a question of character. I’ve always stood up here and said that, and that’s how I was raised. None of that is okay, and I don’t want anybody to ever experience that.” She added.

Clark also said that discussing flagrant fouls is part of the game, but that should never transition into something off the court, especially a player receiving such levels of personal attacks.

Following Clark's wise words, social media followed suit with appreciation for the Fever star.

Fans React to Caitlin Clark's Defense Towards Alyssa Thomas

Fans were largely in agreement with Clark's statements surrounding Thomas and greatly appreciated her for stepping up in a matter that has certainly gone overboard. However, some believe it is time for the league to get out of its own bubble.

"Such a disappointment for this league. They should be exploding in popularity right now. Games are being played in a downtime for the major sports leagues, but they cannot get out of their own way."

A fan commented that the WNBA is not taking full advantage of a time when popularity and interest are at their peak. Instead, a flagrant foul being your main angle for weeks on end does more harm than good to all involved.

"That’s class. You either have it or you don’t." One user approved Clark's mature and emphatic statement.

"An old soul that speaks so grounded and intelligent... She's 24? We need so many more of her." One user shared in surprise. "How is a 24-year-old more mature than you?" Another added.

"This is why she is the FACE of the league." Becoming the face of a league involves a lot of factors, not just being one of the best on the court. Clark's maturity and ability to handle tough situations have given fans more reason to shout her out as the WNBA's main woman.

So, do you believe Caitlin Clark handled this situation well? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy