The WNBA announced on Thursday that Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas received a Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and a one-game suspension. This was announced after the incident with Caitlin Clark, with the league terming it as a "non-basketball act." The fans had their own thoughts on the suspension.

In the game between the Indiana Fever and the Mercury, which ended in a 111-109 win for the Mercury, the incident took place. The WNBA has given the reason for the foul as "recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area."

The incident happened with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter. Clark lost her foot in the paint after making contact with Mercury's Lexi Held. Thomas and DeWanna Bonner then pounced on Clark to snatch the ball away. In the process, Thomas then pushed her fist onto Clark's throat and stepped over her as she stood up.

With the suspension now being active, Thomas will not play the next game of the Mercury, against the Toronto Tempo on June 27. Following the suspension, the Fever also released a statement regarding the player's safety.

"Player safety should be paramount in our league," the Fever stated. "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."

The fans also reacted to the suspension and the foul given to Thomas after the "reckless" act.

Fans Give Opinions Following The One-Game Suspension of Alyssa Thomas After Caitlin Clark Incident

The fans had thoughts about the longevity of the suspension, with some saying the suspension should have been longer. Some fans made jokes about the ban as well.

"One game is weak," a fan commented, suggesting the suspension should have been longer than a game.

Others turned to humor to express frustration. One fan shared a doctored WNBA logo depicting Thomas’ fist striking Clark’s throat, writing, “WNBA unveils new logo.”

The satire underscored how some supporters view the incident as emblematic of poor officiating this season.

The foul was a no-call when reviewed live, though if given a Flagrant Foul 2, then Thomas would have been ejected from the game.

One fan noticed everything and wrote, "Exactly. If she was ejected when this happened, then the Mercury don't likely win the game. Now she is only missing one game against the worst team in the league,"

Some fans responded with sarcasm to the Mercury’s own social media.

One noted the team’s playful tweet of Bonner lying down with the caption “De-Wanna piece of this?!?” and replied, “I suppose this was okay, too.”

This illustrates how official team messaging can clash with the seriousness of the incident.

Finally, frustration mounted over Thomas’ reputation. “One game for repeat offender is crazy,” a fan remarked, pointing to her aggressive playing style.

This comment reflects bigger concerns about consistency in league discipline this season.

Last year, in the semifinals between the Minnesota Lynx and the Mercury, Thomas collided with Napheesa Collier while stealing the ball. Collier broke three ligaments in her ankle following the incident, with no foul being called, as per USA Today.

Thomas will receive a $1,000 fine, and it will be the first time in her 13-year career receiving a suspension.

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Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Koushik Biswas