The WNBA suspended Alyssa Thomas for one game after she struck Caitlin Clark during Wednesday's game, and Fever president Kelly Krauskopf quickly responded by emphasizing player safety.

Fever president Kelly Krauskopf reacted to the WNBA’s decision to punish Thomas after she pushed her fist against Clark and stepped over her while standing up during the 111-109 win over Phoenix, with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter. Krauskopf expressed appreciation for the league’s review.

"Player safety should be paramount in our league," Krauskopf said via the Fever’s X account on June 25. "We appreciate the WNBA’s review of last night’s incident and the action taken. Right now, our focus is on Caitlin and our entire team as we prepare for Saturday."

Following the decision, Thomas received a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty, a $1,000 fine, and a one-game suspension. She will serve the suspension in the Mercury’s June 27 game against Toronto. This is her first-ever suspension in the WNBA.

This decision comes after head coach Stephanie White also criticized the officiating for the no-call on Thomas. White expressed her feelings and said it was “absolutely unacceptable.”

"We have a generational talent and WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called," White said. "Absolutely unacceptable."

White pointed to another foul she called a “cheap shot.” The second incident came when Mercury defender Valériane Ayayi gave Clark no space after closing out on her three-point attempt, causing Clark to land on Ayayi’s foot. This happened in the second quarter as well, with 6:25 left.

The Fever Focus On Caitlin Clark And Their Next Game

Despite the controversy, Krauskopf’s focus has already shifted to Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Clark, who has been averaging 21.2 points, 8.2 assists, and four rebounds per game, has been suffering from a back injury since the start of the season.

With Clark missing 31 regular season games last seasons, the back injury can be a sign of worry for the Fever.

This season, she first exited the Fever’s opener against the Dallas Wings on May 9 (loss, 107-104) and later missed the May 20 game against Portland (win, 90-73). She left again midway through the third quarter of the Mercury game.

However, the Fever’s 10-8 record is an improvement over last year’s 9-9 start, placing them third in the Eastern Conference and seventh overall.

But, the Fever’s defense has been poor, ranking eighth in the league with a 106.7 rating.

They also allow 11.2 fast-break points per game, second-worst in the league, underscoring their struggles in transition defense.

The Fever will need to tighten their defense while hoping Clark can play in the next game, although no official word has been given on her availability yet.

Read More at Her Sports Nation!

Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Koushik Biswas