What's happened
The WNBA has suspended Brittney Thomas after a second-quarter incident in Indiana. Thomas delivered a punch at Taurasi Clark after a loose-ball scramble; no foul was called. The league has the option to review and reclassify activities as flagrant. Thomas will serve the suspension this Saturday as Phoenix visits Toronto. Caitlin Clark leaves with a back injury; Clark is having a standout season.
What's behind the headline?
Live update frame
- The league is reviewing a non-called play that led to a Flagrant Foul 2 designation for Thomas.
- Indiana Fever leveraged the incident to renew calls for player safety.
- Caitlin Clark’s status is uncertain after the third-quarter scare, with her back issue cited as a concern.
- The upcoming schedule includes a game against Toronto on Saturday.
Implications
- A potential reclassification of the foul could set a precedent for officiating reviews.
- The league’s handling of on-court altercations will be watched closely by teams and fans.
How we got here
The incident occurred in the Mercury–Fever game. Indiana Fever players and coaches have criticized officiating. Clark left the game with a back issue; Thomas is a six-time All-Star in her 34th year with the Mercury.
Our analysis
AP News and Al Jazeera report on the same incident; both note the Flagrant Foul 2 penalty and the upcoming suspension. Quotes from Fever coach Stephanie White are included to illustrate reaction. The reporting underscores the ongoing discussion about player safety in the league.
Go deeper
- Will Caitlin Clark’s back injury affect her availability for Saturday?
- How will the WNBA’s review impact officiating rules going forward?
- What other games highlight the league’s handling of on-court confrontations?
More on these topics
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Indiana Fever - Basketball team
The Indiana Fever are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association. The team was founded before the inaugural 2000 season began.
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Phoenix Mercury - Basketball team
The Phoenix Mercury are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association.
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Alyssa Thomas - American basketball player
Alyssa Thomas (born April 12, 1992) is an American professional basketball forward for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Laces of Unrivaled. She played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins. The New York Liberty drafted Thomas 4th overall in the 2014 WNBA draft, and immediately traded her to the Connecticut Sun along with Kelsey Bone and a 2015 first-round draft pick in exchange for Tina Charles. Thomas is the University of Maryland's all-time leader in scoring, rebounding and double-doubles for the women's program, and one of nine athletes in NCAAW history with six career triple-doubles. Thomas is the WNBA's career leader in triple-doubles. She is the only player to record 15+, 15+, 10+ with 0 turnovers in WNBA history. She won gold medals for Team USA at the 2022 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics. Known as "AT", Thomas's nickname is "The Engine".
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Caitlin Clark - American basketball player
Caitlin Clark is an American college basketball player for the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference.