Almost every competitive sport has a point at which physical contact crosses a line, sometimes with consequences rather than malice. That’s exactly what happened during the Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever game on Wednesday, and the WNBA has been dealing with the fallout ever since.
During a scramble for a loose ball in the second quarter, Alyssa Thomas, one of the Mercury’s most physical and dependable forwards, made contact with Caitlin Clark’s throat area. After driving to the basket, Clark went to the ground. As he moved through the play, Thomas closed his fist and applied pressure close to Clark’s neck. In real time, the referees missed it. On review, the league did not overlook it.
Thomas was barred from Phoenix’s Saturday game against the Toronto Tempo due to an upgraded Flagrant 2 ruling that resulted in a one-game suspension by Friday. It happened quickly. And it was either completely justified or completely hurried, depending on who you ask.
Nate Tibbetts, the head coach of Phoenix, stated his stance before that game against Toronto. He believed that the investigation was lacking because he, Thomas, and the security team had not heard from the league prior to the decision. He stated, “This was not a thorough investigation, in my opinion,” citing the NBA’s practice of consulting all relevant parties prior to making decisions such as this one. It’s a valid procedural point. The league may have acted swiftly in part because the video had already gone viral and there was genuine pressure to react. This does not negate the decision, but it does raise concerns about the procedure.
It’s difficult to dispute what the camera captured, though. The WNBA cannot ignore a closed fist pressing on another player’s neck, even in the midst of a scramble and without obvious intent to cause harm. A one-game suspension, as opposed to a multi-game ruling, seemed to be calibrated to address the play without making it bigger than it already was. The league had to draw a line somewhere. Whether that contact is accidental or not, there is a genuine risk of injury.
The announcement was followed by a more subdued but significant event. Thomas remained silent in public. But her teammates had a lot to say. Almost immediately, Thomas’ fiancée and former Fever star DeWanna Bonner posted support. Lexi Held, a rookie, wrote that she was riding with the team. The same was said by veterans Valériane Ayayi and Sami Whitcomb. Even the coaching staff made public posts. The Mercury locker room seems to have swiftly and genuinely closed ranks. It doesn’t always feel natural to have such a cohesive response, but this one did.
It’s important to remember that Thomas doesn’t deserve to have her character completely attacked because of this. Her physical style has been a part of her game for years, and she is an experienced player. There are uncomfortable times. However, the video was what it was, and the league could not afford to ignore it given Clark’s prominence and the current focus on the WNBA. The decision probably ought to have been the same whether the player on the receiving end was a role player or the league’s most watched rookie.
There are still some issues that need to be resolved. In a different sequence from the same game, Aliyah Boston of Indiana was given a Flagrant 1 foul. For a tough closeout on Clark, teammate Valériane Ayayi received criticism of her own. The game was won by the Mercury. However, the majority of the discussion that followed Wednesday night focused on those brief moments of contact and their significance for the players involved, the league’s reputation, and a season that continues to garner more attention than the WNBA has seen in years.
It seems inevitable that future games involving these two teams will be more significant. Depending on how each participant manages the heat, that may or may not be beneficial for the sport.
